in·qui·ry or chiefly Brit en·qui·ry 
/ɪnˈkwaɪri, ˈɪnkwəri/ noun
plural in·qui·ries /ɪnˈkwaɪri, ˈɪnkwəri/ noun 1 [count] : a request for information
▪ She refused to answer inquiries from the media about her marriage. — often + into ▪ She was told that she could not make an inquiry into [=she could not ask about] the salaries of her coworkers. 2 [count] : an official effort to collect and examine information about something : investigation
▪ judicial/legislative inquiries ▪ The board ordered an inquiry to determine whether the rules had been followed. — often + into ▪ The police are conducting an inquiry into (the circumstances of) his death. ◊In British English, a person who is being questioned by the police as a suspect or a witness is said to be helping the police with their inquiries. 3 [noncount] : the act of asking questions in order to gather or collect information
▪ Further inquiry showed that he had visited the city twice before. ▪ scientific/academic inquiry ▪ The police are pursuing a new line of inquiry.
▪ She refused to answer inquiries from the media about her marriage. — often + into ▪ She was told that she could not make an inquiry into [=she could not ask about] the salaries of her coworkers.
▪ judicial/legislative inquiries ▪ The board ordered an inquiry to determine whether the rules had been followed. — often + into ▪ The police are conducting an inquiry into (the circumstances of) his death. ◊In British English, a person who is being questioned by the police as a suspect or a witness is said to be helping the police with their inquiries.
▪ Further inquiry showed that he had visited the city twice before. ▪ scientific/academic inquiry ▪ The police are pursuing a new line of inquiry.
