| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
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| ask |
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| PRONUNCIATION: |   sk |
| VERB: | Inflected forms: asked, ask·ing, asks
| | TRANSITIVE VERB: | 1. To put a question to: When we realized that we didn't know the answer, we asked the teacher. 2. To seek an answer to: ask a question. 3. To seek information about: asked directions. 4a. To make a request of: asked me for a loan. b. To make a request for. Often used with an infinitive or clause: ask a favor of a friend; asked to go along on the trip; asked that he be allowed to stay out late. 5. To require or call for as a price or condition: asked ten dollars for the book. 6. To expect or demand: ask too much of a child. 7. To invite: asked them to dinner. 8. Archaic To publish, as marriage banns. | | INTRANSITIVE VERB: | 1. To make inquiry; seek information. 2. To make a request: asked for help. | | IDIOMS: | ask for it (or trouble) Informal To persist in an action despite the likelihood that it will result in difficulty or punishment. ask out To invite (someone) to a social engagement. | | ETYMOLOGY: | Middle English asken, from Old English  csian, scian. See ais- in Appendix I. | | OTHER FORMS: | ask er —NOUN
| | SYNONYMS: | ask, question, inquire, query, interrogate, examine, quiz These verbs mean to seek information. Ask is the most neutral term: The coach asked me what was wrong. Question implies careful and continuous asking: The prosecutor questioned the witness in great detail. Inquire refers to a simple request for information: The committee will inquire how it can be of help. Query usually suggests settling a doubt: The proofreader queried the spelling of the word. Interrogate applies especially to official questioning: The detectives interrogated the suspects. Examine refers particularly to close and detailed questioning to ascertain a person's knowledge or qualifications: Only lawyers who have been examined and certified by the bar association are admitted to practice. Quiz denotes the informal examination of students: The teacher quizzed the pupils on the state capitals.
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| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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