delve /delv/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive]
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: delfan 'to dig' ]
1 . to try to find more information about someone or something
delve into
research that delves deeply into this issue
2 . [always + adverb/preposition] to search for something by putting your hand deeply into a bag, container etc
delve into/in
He delved into his pocket and brought out a notebook.
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THESAURUS
▪ investigate to try to find out the truth about something such as a crime, accident, or scientific problem:
Police are investigating an explosion in the city centre.
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The aim of the study is to investigate how climate change is affecting animal behaviour.
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There were fears he may have drowned in the lake, so divers were sent down to investigate.
▪ look into something to find out more about a problem, especially after someone has asked you to do this:
The manager promised to look into my complaint.
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Please could you look into the matter for me?
▪ explore to consider or discuss something, in order to help you decide what you should do:
Military leaders are exploring new ways of defending the United States from terrorism.
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I’m going to explore the possibility of a part-time job.
▪ probe [intransitive and transitive] to try to find secret or hidden information, especially by asking questions:
The press began probing into the actor’s private life.
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We have been probing the reasons why the government has been so slow to react to the problem of climate change.
▪ delve [intransitive] to look somewhere in order to try to find more information about something, especially something that is difficult to find out about:
Over the past year Ms Deen has been delving into the national archives, in order to discover information on the early Muslim settlers.
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I think we need to delve a little deeper.
▪ be under investigation if someone or their activities are under investigation, the police are trying to find out if they have done something illegal:
Several public figures are under investigation for corruption.