in ‧ quir ‧ y W2 BrE AmE , enquiry /ɪnˈkwaɪəri $ ɪnˈkwaɪri, ˈɪŋkwəri/ noun ( plural inquiries )
1 . [countable] a question you ask in order to get information
inquiry about
We’re getting a lot of inquiries about our new London–Rio service.
inquiry from
inquiries from potential applicants
I don’t know who sent the gift, but I’ll make some inquiries.
help the police with their inquiries British English (=to answer questions about a crime)
2 . [uncountable] the act or process of asking questions in order to get information:
On further inquiry, it emerged that Malcolm had not been involved in the incident.
The local council set up a committee of inquiry to look into policing arrangements.
scientific/intellectual inquiry
3 . [countable] an official process to find out about something
inquiry into
a judicial inquiry into the deaths
launch/set up/hold an inquiry (into something)
The Civil Aviation Authority has agreed to hold an inquiry into the accident.
The police have launched a murder inquiry.
Parents have called for an independent inquiry into the accident.
⇨ line of inquiry at ↑ line 1 (12)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 1)
■ verbs
▪ make an inquiry
The police are making inquiries to discover the cause of the accident.
▪ get/have an inquiry (=receive it)
We’ve already had a lot of inquiries about membership of the new sports centre.
▪ receive an inquiry formal
The television station has received several inquiries from viewers requesting a repeat of the programme.
▪ handle/deal with an inquiry
Staff will be available to deal with inquiries.
▪ answer an inquiry ( also respond to an inquiry formal )
The government has not yet answered our inquiry.
■ adjectives
▪ a general inquiry
There is a need for a general inquiry into the train company’s safety standards.
▪ a specific inquiry
His job is to answer specific inquiries by individuals or groups.
▪ a written inquiry
I submitted a written inquiry to the local council.
■ phrases
▪ a flood/stream of inquiries
The special offer has produced a flood of inquiries from interested customers.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 3)
■ verbs
▪ hold an inquiry
The government has refused to hold an inquiry into the incident.
▪ launch/set up an inquiry (=start it)
Police launched an inquiry yesterday after a man was killed by a patrol car.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + inquiry
▪ an official inquiry
The outcome of the official inquiry will be eagerly awaited.
▪ a public inquiry (=one which is open to members of the public)
MPs are demanding a public inquiry into the explosion at the nuclear power station.
▪ an independent inquiry (=one that is organized by people who are not involved in a situation)
The Labour Party is calling for an independent inquiry into the conduct of the police.
▪ a police inquiry
The case has been reopened with a police inquiry.
▪ a judicial inquiry (=one involving a judge)
Calls for a judicial inquiry into the affair are growing louder.
▪ a government inquiry (=organized by the government)
A government inquiry was set up into discipline in schools.
▪ a murder inquiry
Police say they haven’t launched a murder inquiry at this stage.
▪ an accident inquiry
The accident inquiry revealed that the accident had been caused by human error.
▪ a parliamentary/congressional inquiry (=by Parliament/Congress)
The report of a parliamentary inquiry into the drugs trade is published today.