inspect

in·spect

verb \in-ˈspekt\

Definition of INSPECT

transitive verb

1

: to view closely in critical appraisal : look over

2

: to examine officially <inspects the barracks every Friday>

intransitive verb

: to make an inspection

— in·spec·tive \-ˈspek-tiv\ adjective

Examples of INSPECT

1. She had the car inspected by a mechanic before she bought it.
2. The candles are inspected for damage before being packaged.
3. After the storm, we went outside to inspect the damage.
4. He inspected the soldiers' barracks.
5. inspecting a restaurant for health code violations

Origin of INSPECT

Latin inspectus, past participle of inspicere, from in- + specere to look — more at spy

First Known Use: circa 1623

Related to INSPECT

Synonyms

audit, check (out), con, examine, overlook, oversee, review, scan, scrutinize, survey, view, go over

Related Words

notice, observe, watch; comb, peruse, pore (over); analyze, dissect, parse; delve (into), explore, investigate, plumb, probe, research, study; categorize, classify; pick over; reinspect, rereview, resurvey

Near Antonyms

skim; glance (at or over); miss, overlook

See Synonym Discussion at scrutinize

Rhymes with INSPECT

abject, advect, affect, aspect, bisect, cathect, collect, confect, connect, convect, correct, cowl-necked, defect, deflect, deject, detect, direct, Dordrecht, effect, eject, elect, erect, ewe-necked, expect, goosenecked, infect, inflect, inject, insect, neglect, object, pandect, porrect, prefect, prelect, project, prospect, protect, refect, reflect, reject, resect, respect, ring-necked, roll-necked, select, stiff-necked, subject, suspect, traject, transect, trisect, Utrecht, V-necked