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Webster 1913 Edition
Inspect
In-spect′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Inspected
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Inspecting
.] [L.
inspectus
, p. p. of inspicere
to inspect; pref. in-
in + specere
to look at, to view: cf. F. inspecter
, fr. L. inspectare
, freq. fr. inspicere
. See Spy
.] 1.
To look upon; to view closely and critically, esp. in order to ascertain quality or condition, to detect errors, etc., to examine; to scrutinize; to investigate;
as, to
. inspect
conduct2.
To view and examine officially, as troops, arms, goods offered, work done for the public, etc.; to oversee; to superintend.
Sir W. Temple.
Webster 1828 Edition
Inspect
INSPECT'
,Verb.
T.
1.
To look on; to view or oversee for the purpose of examination. It is the duty of parents to inspect the conduct or manners of their children.2.
To look into; to view and examine, for the purpose of ascertaining the quality or condition of a thing; as, to inspect potash; to inspect flour; to inspect arms.3.
To view and examine for the purpose of discovering and correcting errors; as, to inspect the press, or the proof-sheets of a book.4.
To superintend.INSPECT'
,Noun.
Definition 2024
inspect
inspect
English
Alternative forms
- enspect (rare)
Verb
inspect (third-person singular simple present inspects, present participle inspecting, simple past and past participle inspected)
- To examine critically or carefully; especially, to search out problems or determine condition; to scrutinize.
- Inspect the system for leaks.
- To view and examine officially.
- 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 6, in The China Governess:
- ‘[…] I remember a lady coming to inspect St. Mary's Home where I was brought up and seeing us all in our lovely Elizabethan uniforms we were so proud of, and bursting into tears all over us because “it was wicked to dress us like charity children”. […]’.
- The general inspected the troops and their barracks.
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Derived terms
Translations
examine critically, scrutinize
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view and examine officially
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