INDEX:
1. to examine something
2. to examine someone
3. when something is examined
4. when a doctor examines someone
RELATED WORDS
an exam or test : ↑ TEST
see also
↑ LOOK FOR
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1. to examine something
▷ examine /ɪgˈzæmɪn, ɪgˈzæmən/ [transitive verb]
to look at something carefully and thoroughly because you want to find out more about it :
▪ Experts who examined the painting believe it is genuine.
▪ Her new book examines the causes of social discontent.
▪ A team of divers was sent down to examine the wreckage.
examine something for something
in order to find something
▪ The police will examine the weapon for fingerprints.
▷ look carefully/closely /ˌlʌk ˈkeəʳf ə li, ˈkləʊsli/ [verb phrase]
to look carefully at something in order to see small details :
▪ If you look carefully, you can see the artist’s name in the corner of the picture.
look carefully/closely at
▪ I had to look closely at the two fish to tell them apart.
▷ take/have a look at /ˌteɪk, ˌhæv ə ˈlʊk æt/ [verb phrase] especially spoken
to look carefully at something in order to find out what is wrong with it or to find out something about it :
▪ ‘You’d better take a look at this,’ she said, passing me a letter.
▪ I’ve asked Ken to have a look at the car - it’s been making strange noises.
take/have a good look at something
look very carefully and thoroughly
▪ Take a good look at the photograph and see if you recognize anyone
▷ analyze also analyse British /ˈænəlaɪz/ [transitive verb]
to examine something closely and in detail, especially a problem or a piece of information, in order to understand it :
▪ Scientists use computers to help analyse the data.
▪ One of the problems in analyzing the situation is that we do not have all the information yet.
▷ study /ˈstʌdi/ [transitive verb]
to spend a lot of time examining something very carefully, for example a document, a plan, or a problem :
▪ I won’t comment till I’ve had time to study the proposals.
▪ A team of scientists has been studying the effects of acid rain over a twenty-year period.
▷ check /tʃek/ [transitive verb]
to look at something carefully and thoroughly to make sure that it is correct, safe, or working properly :
▪ Their passports were checked by immigration officers at the airport.
check something for something
in order to find something
▪ We need to check the building for structural damage.
▷ check over /ˌtʃek ˈəʊvəʳ/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to quickly examine every part of something to make sure that it is correct or safe :
check over something
▪ The editor always checks over what I’ve written.
check something over
▪ I’m going to take the car in and ask the mechanic to check it over before we go on vacation.
▷ inspect /ɪnˈspekt/ [transitive verb]
to look at something carefully and thoroughly to make sure that it is correct, safe, or working properly, especially when it is your job to do this :
▪ The building is regularly inspected by a fire-safety officer.
▪ Russian and American teams will have the right to inspect each other’s missile sites.
▪ Some insurance people have already been here to inspect the damage caused by the storm.
inspect something for something
in order to find something
▪ All trucks coming through are inspected for mechanical violations.
inspector [countable noun]
an official whose job is to check that something is correct, safe, or working properly: :
▪ a health and safety inspector
▷ go through/go over /ˌgəʊ ˈθruː, ˌgəʊ ˈəʊvəʳ/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to examine something such as a document or plan thoroughly from beginning to end, especially in order to check that it is correct :
▪ I’d like to go over last month’s accounts with you.
▪ You should still go through the contract with a lawyer before you sign.
▷ look over /ˌlʊk ˈəʊvəʳ/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to look at every part of something in order to see if it is satisfactory, but fairly quickly and without paying much attention to detail :
look over something
▪ I’ve looked over all the records and they seem okay.
look something over
▪ The book is expensive, so look it over to make sure it’s what you really want.
▷ scrutinize also scrutinise British /ˈskruːtɪnaɪz, ˈskruːtənaɪz/ [transitive verb]
to examine something very closely and carefully in order to find out whether there is anything wrong, especially because it is your official duty to do this :
▪ The coach’s assistants stood along the field and scrutinized every move we made.
▪ The Federal Trade Commission is scrutinizing the proposed merger of the two companies.
2. to examine someone
▷ examine /ɪgˈzæmɪn, ɪgˈzæmən/ [transitive verb]
if a doctor examines you, he or she looks at your body to find out if there is anything wrong :
▪ I’m going to the hospital tomorrow to have my knee examined again.
▪ The doctor examined her, but didn’t find anything wrong.
▷ inspect /ɪnˈspekt/ [transitive verb]
to officially check someone or make sure that they are doing their job properly - used especially about soldiers and about teachers in Britain :
▪ General Allenby arrived to inspect the troops.
▪ The school will be inspected in May.
▷ check up on /ˌtʃek ˈʌp ɒn/ [transitive phrasal verb] informal
to check, especially secretly, that someone is doing what they are supposed to do :
▪ Some companies use hidden cameras in order to check up on their employees.
▪ I just want to call home and check up on the kids.
3. when something is examined
▷ examination /ɪgˌzæmɪˈneɪʃ ə n, ɪgˌzæməˈneɪʃ ə n/ [countable/uncountable noun]
when someone looks at something carefully and thoroughly to find out more about it :
examination of
▪ Mandelbaum’s new book is an examination of US foreign policy.
careful/close/detailed/thorough examination
▪ A detailed examination of population statistics reveals a steady decline in the birth rate.
be under examination
be in the process of being examined
▪ The committee’s latest proposals are still under examination.
on closer examination
when examined more carefully
▪ On closer examination the vases were found to be cracked in several places.
▷ analysis /əˈnæləsɪs, əˈnæləsəs/ [countable/uncountable noun]
a detailed examination of something in order to understand it better, especially when this involves studying a large amount of information :
▪ Our analysis shows that the proposed cost for the new highway is unrealistic.
analysis of
▪ An analysis of data from Australia shows that skin cancer is on the increase.
detailed analysis
▪ The article provides a detailed analysis of various research designs.
in the final analysis
after all other ideas have been considered
▪ In the final analysis, it is the better organized party that will probably win.
▷ check /tʃek/ [countable noun]
an examination of something to make sure that it is correct, safe, or satisfactory :
check on
▪ There are regular checks on the quality of goods leaving our factory.
carry out/run/do a check
make a check
▪ All routine safety checks were carried out before the flight.
spot check
an unplanned check on a thing or person that is chosen from a group by chance
▪ Spot checks by customs officers led to the arrest of several drug smugglers.
background check
a check on what someone has done in the past
▪ The agency does background checks on all the nannies it hires.
▷ inspection /ɪnˈspekʃ ə n/ [countable/uncountable noun]
a thorough examination of something, especially by someone in an official position, in order to find out more about it or find out if it is satisfactory :
inspection of
▪ There are regular inspections of the prison by government health officers.
carry out an inspection
▪ Admiral Naumenko personally carried out an inspection of the fleet.
on/upon closer inspection
when you look at something more carefully
▪ The bundle, on closer inspection, turned out to be a small child.
▷ study /ˈstʌdi/ [countable noun]
a careful examination of or research into a particular subject or problem in which the process and results are reported in a written document :
study of
▪ Studies of dolphins have shown that they are able to communicate information to each other.
make a study
▪ A series of studies was made to discover the relationship between diet and behavior.
▷ scrutiny /ˈskruːtɪni, ˈskruːtəni/ [uncountable noun] formal
careful and thorough examination of something :
▪ The company’s plans for expansion have attracted scrutiny from consumer groups.
scrutiny of
▪ Airlines have increased their scrutiny of the size and amount of carry-on luggage.
under scrutiny
▪ The city’s elections department has been under scrutiny since last year.
close/intense/careful scrutiny
▪ Closer scrutiny of the document revealed a number of interesting facts.
come under public scrutiny
begin to be closely examined by people
▪ Once you become famous your private life comes under public scrutiny.
4. when a doctor examines someone
▷ examination /ɪgˌzæmɪˈneɪʃ ə n, ɪgˌzæməˈneɪʃ ə n/ [countable noun]
when a doctor examines someone’s body to find out if there is anything wrong with them :
▪ After a brief examination by a local doctor, I was taken to the city’s main hospital.
give somebody an examination
▪ Each of the prisoners was given a thorough medical examination.
▷ physical (examination) /ˌfɪzɪk ə l (ɪgˌzæmə̇ˈneɪʃ ə n)/ [countable noun]
a thorough examination of someone’s body and general health by a doctor, especially to decide whether they are fit to do a particular job :
▪ My insurance plan covers one complete physical per year.
get a physical (examination)
▪ Bobby has to get a physical before he can join the football team.
give somebody a physical (examination)
▪ Prior to the study all test subjects were given physical examinations.
▷ check-up /ˈtʃek ʌp/ [countable noun]
a medical examination to make sure that someone is healthy - especially one that is done regularly :
▪ I see my dentist every six months for a check-up.
give somebody/something a check-up
▪ The vet gave both our horses a thorough check-up and pronounced them fit to race.
▷ post-mortem especially British /autopsy especially American /pəʊst ˈmɔːʳtəm, ˈɔːtɒpsiǁ-tɑːpsi/ [countable noun]
a medical examination of a dead body in order to find out how the person died :
▪ A post-mortem revealed that the woman had died of blood poisoning.
carry out/do/perform/conduct a post-mortem
▪ A police pathologist carried out a post-mortem on the body.
do/perform/conduct an autopsy
▪ Officials would not release the results of the autopsy that had been performed on Gallagher.