research

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: re=search

CIDE DICTIONARY

research, n. [Pref. re- + search: cf OF. recerche, F. recherche.].

•  Diligent inquiry or examination in seeking facts or principles; laborious or continued search after truth; as, researches of human wisdom; to research a topic in the library; medical research.  [1913 Webster]

  "The dearest interests of parties have frequently been staked on the results of the researches of antiquaries."  [1913 Webster]
•  Systematic observation of phenomena for the purpose of learning new facts or testing the application of theories to known facts; -- also called scientific research. This is the research part of the phrase “research and development” (R&D).

  "The distinctive characteristic of scientific research is the maintenance of records and careful control or observation of conditions under which the phenomena are studied so that others will be able to reproduce the observations. When the person conducting the research varies the conditions beforehand in order to test directly the effects of changing conditions on the results of the observation, such investigation is called experimental research or experimentation or experimental science; it is often conducted in a laboratory. If the investigation is conducted with a view to obtaining information directly useful in producing objects with commercial or practical utility, the research is called applied research. Investigation conducted for the primary purpose of discovering new facts about natural phenomena, or to elaborate or test theories about natural phenomena, is called basic research or fundamental research. Research in fields such as astronomy, in which the phenomena to be observed cannot be controlled by the experimenter, is called observational research. Epidemiological research is a type of observational research in which the researcher applies statistical methods to analyse patterns of occurrence of disease and its association with other phenomena within a population, with a view to understanding the origins or mode of transmission of the disease."  [PJC]

Syn. -- Investigation; examination; inquiry; scrutiny.

research, v. t. [Pref. re- + search: cf. OF. recerchier, F. rechercher.].

 To search or examine with continued care; to seek diligently.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

research, disp. n. & v.
--n.
1 a the systematic investigation into and study of materials, sources, etc., in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions. b (usu. in pl.) an endeavour to discover new or collate old facts etc. by the scientific study of a subject or by a course of critical investigation.
2 (attrib.) engaged in or intended for research (research assistant).
--v.
1 tr. do research into or for.
2 intr. make researches.

Idiom

research and development (in industry etc.) work directed towards the innovation, introduction, and improvement of products and processes.

Derivative

researchable adj. researcher n.

Etymology

obs. F recerche (as RE-, SEARCH)

THESAURUS

research

amassing evidence, analysis, assay, beat the bushes, bring to test, burrow, check out, close inquiry, confirm, cut and try, delve, delve into, delving, department of investigation, detection, detective work, dig, dig into, digging, enquiry, essay, examination, examine, exhaustive study, experiment, experimentation, exploration, explore, fact-finding, forage, frisk, give a try, give a tryout, go through, have a go, hearing, hunt, indagation, inquest, inquire into, inquiry, inquisition, inspect, inspection, investigate, investigation, investigative bureau, legislative investigation, legwork, look around, look round, look through, nose around, perscrutation, play around with, poke, poke around, practice upon, probe, probing, prove, pry, put to trial, quest, road-test, root, run a sample, sample, scrutinize, scrutiny, search, search through, shake down, sifting, sleuthing, smell around, study, substantiate, taste, test, try, try it on, try out, validate, verify, witch-hunt

ROGET THESAURUS

research

Inquiry

N inquiry, request, search, research, quest, pursuit, examination, review, scrutiny, investigation, indagation, perquisition, perscrutation, pervestigation, inquest, inquisition, exploration, exploitation, ventilation, sifting, calculation, analysis, dissection, resolution, induction, Baconian method, strict inquiry, close inquiry, searching inquiry, exhaustive inquiry, narrow search, strict search, study, scire facias, ad referendum, trial, questioning, interrogation, interrogatory, interpellation, challenge, examination, cross-examination, catechism, feeler, Socratic method, zetetic philosophy, leading question, discussion, reconnoitering, reconnaissance, prying, espionage, espionnage, domiciliary visit, peep behind the curtain, lantern of Diogenes, question, query, problem, desideratum, point to be solved, porism, subject of inquiry, field of inquiry, subject of controversy, point in dispute, matter in dispute, moot point, issue, question at issue, bone of contention, plain question, fair question, open question, enigma, knotty point, quodlibet, threshold of an inquiry, inquirer, investigator, inquisitor, inspector, querist, examiner, catechist, scrutator scrutineer scrutinizer, analyst, quidnunc, inquiry, inquisitive, requisitive, requisitory, catechetical, inquisitorial, analytic, in search of, in quest of, on the lookout for, interrogative, zetetic, all searching, undetermined, untried, undecided, in question, in dispute, in issue, in course of inquiry, under discussion, under consideration, under investigation, sub judice, moot, proposed, doubtful, quaere?, what?, why?, wherefore?, whence?, whither?, where?, how comes it?, how happens it?, how is it?, what is the reason?, what's the matter?, nicht wahr?, what's in the wind?, what on earth?, when?, who?.