Inspecting
/ɪnˈspɛktɪŋ/
Definitions
To look at something closely and carefully to find any problems or to learn more about it.
/ɪnˈspɛktɪŋ/
To examine carefully or critically.
The mechanic is inspecting the car's engine for any issues.
💡 Simply: Think of it like a detective looking closely at something to see what's wrong or find out what happened. Like when you check a toy to see if it's broken or a cake to see if it's done.
👶 For kids: Looking at something very carefully to see if it's okay or if there's anything wrong.
More Examples
The teacher inspected the students' homework.
Before buying the house, we had a professional inspect the foundation.
How It's Used
"The police are inspecting the crime scene for evidence."
"The factory worker is inspecting the products for defects."
"The doctor is inspecting the patient's wound."
From Latin *inspicere* ("to look into, examine"), from *in-* ("in") + *specere* ("to look").
The word 'inspect' and its related forms have been used since the 16th century, evolving from its Latin roots related to looking into something to determine its quality or condition.
Memory tip
Imagine a detective meticulously INSIDE-SEEING a crime scene to gather clues.
Word Origin
"to look into, examine"