enquiry

noun

1 (C) a question you ask in order to get information

(+ about): We're getting a lot of inquiries from travel companies about our new London-Rio service. | make inquiries: I don't know who sent the gift, but I'll make discreet inquiries. | be helping the police with their inquiries BrE (=be answering questions about a crime)

2 (U) the act of asking questions in order to get information: On further inquiry, it emerged that Malcolm had not been involved in the campaign. | line of inquiry (=method of inquiry): No definite information yet - but we're following up a most promising line of inquiry.

3 enquiries the name of a service or office from which you can get information

4 (C) an official process, in the form of a series of meetings, intended to find out why something happened

(+ into): Local residents are calling for a public inquiry into the accident. | hold/conduct an inquiry: complaints that the inquiry is being conducted behind closed doors

5 scientific inquiry a process of trying to discover facts by scientific methods