inspect
- 01 B1 Intermediate
to look at something closely to check its condition or to find any mistakes.
to examine something critically and in detail, typically to assess its condition or to identify flaws.
Simple“The mechanic needs to inspect the car's brakes before we go on our trip.”
In context“The engineer spent several hours inspecting the structural supports of the bridge for signs of metal fatigue or corrosion.”
UsageThis is a transitive verb that takes a direct object.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
to visit a place officially to make sure that rules are being followed.
to carry out an official or formal viewing of a facility, organisation, or equipment to ensure it meets legal or safety standards.
Simple“Health officials will inspect the restaurant kitchen tomorrow morning.”
In context“The general arrived at the base to inspect the troops and evaluate their readiness for the upcoming joint training exercise.”
UsageOften used in contexts involving government, health, or safety authorities.
“On Wednesday, Putin travelled to the nearby Russian island of Sakhalin, where he inspected navy drills and declared that the four disputed islands were recognised as Russian in international documents.”
“The total cost would be over €1 million if all machines across the State were similarly inspected.”
From Latin inspectum, past participle of inspicere (“to look into”), from in (“in”) + specere (“to look at”), equivalent to in- + -spect.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.