analyze
v.-
1 to study in detail (v.) B2 Upper Intermediate Academic American Englishto look at something very carefully to find out more about it.
to examine something methodically and in detail, typically in order to explain or interpret it.
ExampleThe scientists need to analyze the water samples to make sure they are safe.
ExampleThe researchers spent months trying to analyze the data collected during the clinical trials to determine if the new drug was effective.
UsageOften followed by a noun phrase representing the object of study; frequently used in passive constructions in academic writing.
Teacher's tipNote the spelling difference: 'analyze' is the standard American form, while 'analyse' is used in British English.
Probably formed within English, by back-formation, or by haplology from analysis + -ize, or from Middle French analyser, from the noun analyse, from Medieval Latin analysis, from Ancient Greek ἀνάλυσις (análusis, “a breaking up, a loosening, releasing”), from ἀναλύω (analúō, “to unloose, release, set free”), from ἀνά (aná, “on, up, above, throughout”) + λύσις (lúsis, “a loosening”), from λύω (lúō, “to unfasten”).
- Verbanalyze
- Nounanalyzer