inspect

Academic Word List, sublist 8.

About 3.54 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. verb To examine critically or carefully; especially, to search out problems or determine condition; to scrutinize.

   Inspect the system for leaks.

2. verb To observe the status or nature of an object beyond what is found obvious upon its initial presentation; to 'view within' the object.

   After speaking with the building owner, hearing that the building's steam pipes were over eighty years old, and noticing areas where the pipes had been patched with duct tape, we decided to thoroughly inspect the system for leaks.

3. verb To examine officially.

   The general inspected the troops and their barracks.

Similar words

scrutinize audit visit examine scan scrutinise investigate survey inspection oversee

Often followed by

the and it a all them his their for

Word family

inspected inspecting inspection inspections inspective inspector inspectors inspects