English verb: ascertain | |||
1. | ascertain (communication) establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study | ||
Samples | Find the product of two numbers. The physicist who found the elusive particle won the Nobel Prize. | ||
Synonyms | determine, find, find out | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s whether INFINITIVE | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | admeasure, count, enumerate, gauge, locate, number, numerate, rectify, redetermine, refract, sequence, situate, translate | ||
Verb group | ascertain, check, determine, discover, find, find out, learn, see, watch | ||
2. | ascertain (cognition) be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something | ||
Samples | He verified that the valves were closed. See that the curtains are closed. Control the quality of the product. | ||
Synonyms | assure, check, control, ensure, insure, see, see to it | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s that CLAUSE | ||
Broader (hypernym) | verify | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | card, cinch, control, cover, cross-check, double-check, proof, proofread, spot-check | ||
Verb group | ascertain, check, check, check, check off, control, determine, find out, learn, mark, mark off, see, tick, tick off, verify, watch | ||
3. | ascertain (communication) find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort | ||
Samples | I want to see whether she speaks French. See whether it works. Find out if he speaks Russian. Check whether the train leaves on time. | ||
Examples | They ascertain whether there was a traffic accident | ||
Synonyms | check, determine, find out, learn, see, watch | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s whether INFINITIVE | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | test | ||
Verb group | ascertain, ascertain, assure, check, control, determine, ensure, find, find out, insure, see, see to it | ||
4. | ascertain (cognition) learn or discover with certainty | ||
Examples | They ascertain that there was a traffic accident | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s that CLAUSE | ||
Broader (hypernym) | discover, find out, get a line, get wind, get word, hear, learn, pick up, see | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | price | ||