delve
Search with purpose
Delve means to dig or search deeply into something, almost always in a figurative sense.
When you delve into a subject, you explore it thoroughly and with sustained attention: She delved into the archives looking for evidence of fraud.
The word suggests going beneath the surface, whether investigating a mystery, researching a topic, or examining one's own feelings.
Its original meaning of digging with a spade is now rare outside of literary or archaic contexts.
Act of seeking
- rootUnderground absorbing structure
- rifleLong-barreled shoulder weapon
- ferretDomesticated weasel kept as pet
- pawAnimal's clawed foot
scavenge · sift · forage · hunt · ransack · scour · comb · poke
Unearth by shoveling
- shovelTool for moving earth
- trowelFlat blade for spreading
- archaeologyStudy of physical remnants
- fossilPreserved ancient organism
spade · quarry · relic · artifact · burial · site · paleontology · stratum
Formal examination of facts
- inquiryRequest for information
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- examinationMethodical assessment or review
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
probe · study · exploration · research · fact-finding · inspection · interrogation · deduction
Far from surface
- profoundIntensely meaningful or insightful
- thoroughComplete in every detail
- in-depthThoroughly and comprehensively detailed
- meticulousShowing extreme attention to detail
exhaustive · comprehensive · detailed · intensive · immersive · rigorous · penetrating · searching
search
Act of seeking
- rootUnderground absorbing structure
- rifleLong-barreled shoulder weapon
- ferretDomesticated weasel kept as pet
paw · scavenge · sift · forage · hunt · ransack · scour · comb · poke · nose
dig
Unearth by shoveling
- shovelTool for moving earth
- trowelFlat blade for spreading
- archaeologyStudy of physical remnants
fossil · spade · quarry · relic · artifact · burial · site · paleontology · stratum · earthmover
investigation
Formal examination of facts
- inquiryRequest for information
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- examinationMethodical assessment or review
scrutiny · probe · study · exploration · research · fact-finding · inspection · interrogation · deduction · evidence
deep
Far from surface
- profoundIntensely meaningful or insightful
- thoroughComplete in every detail
- in-depthThoroughly and comprehensively detailed
meticulous · exhaustive · comprehensive · detailed · intensive · immersive · rigorous · penetrating · searching · probing
ore
Metal-bearing rock
diamond · shaft · drill · tunnel · miner · gemstone · prospecting · lode · vein · burrow
- excavationdig, excavation, excavating, excavator, digging
- engageengage, immerse, dive, plunge, absorb
- explorationexploration, explore, expedition, expeditions, voyage
- searchsearch, web search, seek, text search, hunt
- feeling outtest the waters, sound out, probe, feel out, gauge
- gropinggrope, fumble, feel, feel around, reach
delveskim
Pass over lightly
glance · scan · browse · scratch the surface · gloss over
delvebury
Place beneath soil
conceal · cover up · hide · gloss over · paper over