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SCRUTINY
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I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
The act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)
Synonyms:
examination; scrutiny
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("scrutiny" is a kind of...):
investigating; investigation (the work of inquiring into something thoroughly and systematically)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "scrutiny"):
bank examination (an examination of the affairs and records of a bank by a state or federal bank examiner)
inspection; review (a formal or official examination)
motion study; time-and-motion study; time-motion study; time and motion study; time study; work study (an analysis of a specific job in an effort to find the most efficient method in terms of time and effort)
testing (an examination of the characteristics of something)
study; survey (a detailed critical inspection)
search (boarding and inspecting a ship on the high seas)
scan (the act of scanning; systematic examination of a prescribed region)
rhinoscopy (examination of the nasal passages (either through the anterior nares or with a rhinoscope through the nasopharynx))
keratoscopy (examination of the cornea with a keratoscope to detect irregularities in its anterior surface)
gonioscopy (an examination of the front part of the eye to check the angle where the iris meets the cornea; it is used to distinguish between open-angle glaucoma and closed-angle glaucoma)
endoscopy (visual examination of the interior of a hollow body organ by use of an endoscope)
palpation; tactual exploration (a method of examination in which the examiner feels the size or shape or firmness or location of something (of body parts when the examiner is a health professional))
ophthalmoscopy (examination of the interior of an eye using an ophthalmoscope)
look-over; once-over (a swift cursory examination or inspection)
going-over (a careful and thorough inspection)
follow-up; followup; reexamination; review (a subsequent examination of a patient for the purpose of monitoring earlier treatment)
fine-tooth comb; fine-toothed comb (a method of examining in minute detail)
comparing; comparison (the act of examining resemblances)
checkup; health check; medical; medical checkup; medical exam; medical examination (a thorough physical examination; includes a variety of tests depending on the age and sex and health of the person)
autopsy; necropsy; PM; post-mortem; post-mortem examination; postmortem; postmortem examination (an examination and dissection of a dead body to determine cause of death or the changes produced by disease)
audit (a methodical examination or review of a condition or situation)
Derivation:
scrutineer (someone who examines votes at an election)
scrutinise (examine carefully for accuracy with the intent of verification)
scrutinise (to look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail)
scrutinize (examine carefully for accuracy with the intent of verification)
scrutinize (to look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A prolonged intense look
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("scrutiny" is a kind of...):
look; looking; looking at (the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually)
Derivation:
scrutineer (someone who examines votes at an election)
scrutinise (examine carefully for accuracy with the intent of verification)
scrutinise (to look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail)
scrutinize (examine carefully for accuracy with the intent of verification)
scrutinize (to look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail)
Context examples:
My visitor, who had watched these metamorphoses with a keen eye, smiled, set down the glass upon the table, and then turned and looked upon me with an air of scrutiny.
(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
Twelve of the 14 restaurants that provided voluntary menu labelling were in the top 50 restaurants by sales – larger chains may come under more scrutiny from governments, the media, campaign groups and the public to provide both menu labelling and healthier options.
(Menu labelling linked to less fat and salt in food, University of Cambridge)
The impertinence of these kind of scrutinies, moreover, was generally concluded with a compliment, which though meant as its douceur, was considered by Marianne as the greatest impertinence of all; for after undergoing an examination into the value and make of her gown, the colour of her shoes, and the arrangement of her hair, she was almost sure of being told that upon her word she looked vastly smart, and she dared to say she would make a great many conquests.
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
When I came into the room where he was, and introduced myself, he took me by the shoulder, and turned my face round to the light, and said, after a sharp scrutiny:—"But Madam Mina told me you were ill, that you had had a shock."
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
Her look and manners were open, cheerful, and engaging as ever, but without any symptom of peculiar regard, and I remained convinced from the evening's scrutiny, that though she received his attentions with pleasure, she did not invite them by any participation of sentiment.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
The conclusions drawn from this scrutiny he partially expressed in his succeeding observations.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
What irksome constraint I underwent, sitting in the same attitude hours upon hours, afraid to move an arm or a leg lest Miss Murdstone should complain (as she did on the least pretence) of my restlessness, and afraid to move an eye lest she should light on some look of dislike or scrutiny that would find new cause for complaint in mine!
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
In the homely Alpine villages or in the lonely mountain passes, I could tell by his quick glancing eyes and his sharp scrutiny of every face that passed us, that he was well convinced that, walk where we would, we could not walk ourselves clear of the danger which was dogging our footsteps.
(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
"Ah, the governess!" he repeated; "deuce take me, if I had not forgotten! The governess!" and again my raiment underwent scrutiny.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
Not having as yet finished my own breakfast, I attempted to hide my confusion by proceeding with it; but my knife tumbled over my fork, my fork tripped up my knife, I chipped bits of bacon a surprising height into the air instead of cutting them for my own eating, and choked myself with my tea, which persisted in going the wrong way instead of the right one, until I gave in altogether, and sat blushing under my aunt's close scrutiny.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
