— investigational , adj.
/in ves'ti gay"sheuhn/ , n.
1. the act or process of investigating or the condition of being investigated.
2. a searching inquiry for ascertaining facts; detailed or careful examination.
[ 1400-50; late ME investigacio ( u ) n investigation- (s. of investigatio ). See INVESTIGATE, -ION ]
Syn. 1, 2. scrutiny, exploration. INVESTIGATION, EXAMINATION, INQUIRY, RESEARCH express the idea of an active effort to find out something. An INVESTIGATION is a systematic, minute, and thorough attempt to learn the facts about something complex or hidden; it is often formal and official: an investigation of a bank failure. An EXAMINATION is an orderly attempt to obtain information about or to make a test of something, often something presented for observation: a physical examination. An INQUIRY is an investigation made by asking questions rather than by inspection, or by study of available evidence: an inquiry into a proposed bond issue. RESEARCH is careful and sustained investigation.