1. (n.) Diligent inquiry or examination in seeking facts or principles; laborious or continued search after truth; as, researches of human wisdom.

2. (v. t.) To search or examine with continued care; to seek diligently.

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