INQUIRY
Dictionary entry overview: What does inquiry mean?
• INQUIRY (noun)
The noun INQUIRY has 3 senses:
1. a search for knowledge
2. an instance of questioning
3. a systematic investigation of a matter of public interest
Familiarity information: INQUIRY used as a noun is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
• INQUIRY (noun)
Meaning:
A search for knowledge
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Synonyms:
inquiry; enquiry; research
Context example:
their pottery deserves more research than it has received
Hypernyms ("inquiry" is a kind of...):
problem solving (the thought processes involved in solving a problem)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "inquiry"):
nature study (the study of animals and plants in the natural world (usually at an elementary level))
experiment; experimentation (the testing of an idea)
empirical research (an empirical search for knowledge)
investigation; probe (an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities)
canvass; opinion poll; poll; public opinion poll (an inquiry into public opinion conducted by interviewing a random sample of people)
heraldry (the study and classification of armorial bearings and the tracing of genealogies)
Meaning:
An instance of questioning
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Synonyms:
query; enquiry; question; inquiry; interrogation
Context examples:
there was a question about my training / we made inquiries of all those who were present
Hypernyms ("inquiry" is a kind of...):
inquiring; questioning (a request for information)
Meaning:
A systematic investigation of a matter of public interest
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
enquiry; inquiry
Hypernyms ("inquiry" is a kind of...):
investigating; investigation (the work of inquiring into something thoroughly and systematically)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "inquiry"):
means test (an inquiry into the financial position of someone applying for financial aid)
inquest (an inquiry into the cause of an unexpected death)
