research
research Lexical Profile
research Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.
"The university team is conducting groundbreaking medical research into the causes of autoimmune diseases."
• verb
To investigate systematically in order to discover or verify facts, theories, or applications.
"She spent two years in the national archives to research the history of her hometown."
Word Nuance & Usage
In standard modern English, 'research' is almost always used as an uncountable mass noun (e.g., 'conduct research' or 'a piece of research' rather than 'a research'), though the plural 'researches' occasionally appears in formal academic writing to refer to a series of investigations.
• Rhymes for research
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 16th century from Middle French 'recherche' ('a diligent search'), from Old French 'recerchier', formed from the intensive prefix 're-' ('thoroughly') and 'cerchier' ('to seek for'), ultimately from Late Latin 'circare' ('to go around or wander through').