- systematic investigation to establish facts or principles or to collect information on a subject
- to carry out investigations into (a subject, problem, etc)
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
re•search /rɪˈsɜrtʃ, ˈrisɜrtʃ/USA pronunciation
n.
v.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- [uncountable] careful patient study of a subject in order to discover or revise facts, theories, principles, etc. []
- [countable]a particular piece of research.
v.
- to investigate or look into something carefully;
to do research on: [~ + object]He researched the subject.[no object]spending time researching.
re-search
(rē sûrch′),USA pronunciation v.t., v.i.
re•search (ri sûrch′, rē′sûrch),USA pronunciation n.
v.i.
v.t.
re•search′a•ble, adj.
re•search′er, re•search′ist, n.
- to search or search for again.
- re- + search 1740–50
re•search (ri sûrch′, rē′sûrch),USA pronunciation n.
- diligent and systematic inquiry or investigation into a subject in order to discover or revise facts, theories, applications, etc.:recent research in medicine.
- a particular instance or piece of research.
v.i.
- to make researches;
investigate carefully.
v.t.
- to make an extensive investigation into:to research a matter thoroughly.
- Middle French recerche
- Middle French recercher to seek, Old French, equivalent. to re- re- + cercher to search; (noun, nominal)
- (verb, verbal) 1570–80
re•search′er, re•search′ist, n.
- 1. scrutiny, study. See investigation. 4. study, inquire, examine, scrutinize.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
research /rɪˈsɜːtʃ; ˈriːsɜːtʃ/ n
'research work' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):