Definition of: inquire

(in·kwīr′) v. ·quired, ·quir·ing v.t.
1. To ask information about: They inquired the way.
—v.i.
2. To seek information by asking questions: to inquire about one's health.
3. To make investigation, search, or inquiry: with into. Also spelled enquire. [<L inquirere inquire into <in- into + quaerere seek]
—in·quir′a·ble adjective
—in·quir′er noun
—in·quir′ing adjective
—in·quir′ing·ly adverb Synonyms: ask, examine, interrogate, query, question. One may either ask or inquire one's way. In this sense ask and inquire are nearly interchangeable, chiefly differing in the fact that ask is the popular and inquire the more formal word, although ask has place in the best literary use. Also, ask has more reference to the presence of a second person; the solitary investigator inquires rather than asks the cause of some phenomenon: in this sense ask is often used reflexively; as, “I asked myself why this happened.” Inquire into thus becomes a natural synonym for examine, investigate, etc. Compare ASK, EXAMINE, QUESTION.