investigate

v. (-ting) 1 inquire into; examine. 2 make a systematic inquiry.  investigation n. Investigative adj. Investigator n. Investigatory adj. [latin vestigo track]

v. t. To follow up step by step by patient inquiry or observation; to trace or track mentally; to search into; to inquire and examine into with care and accuracy; to find out by careful inquisition; as, to investigate the causes of natural phenomena.