query
B2formal to neutral; common in professional, academic, and technical contexts.
Definition
Meaning
a question, especially one asking for information, clarification, or official investigation; to question or express doubt about something.
In computing, a request for data from a database or search engine; an instance of doubt or uncertainty requiring resolution.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, it often implies an official or formal question. As a verb, it suggests careful, sometimes sceptical, questioning.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar. The word is perhaps slightly more frequent in formal British contexts (e.g., 'to raise a query'). In computing, equally common.
Connotations
Neutral to formal in both. Can imply a polite challenge or request for verification.
Frequency
High frequency in professional and IT environments globally.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
query somebody about somethingquery whether/if...query + noun (e.g., query the data)a query from somebodya query as to...Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “beyond query (beyond question)”
- “to query the wisdom of (to question the wisdom of)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
We will address your query within 24 hours. The manager queried the expense report.
Academic
The researcher's query regarding the methodology was noted. Several points in the thesis were queried by the examiners.
Everyday
I have a query about my bill. She queried the instructions, as they seemed unclear.
Technical
The SQL query returned thousands of results. The system logs all user queries.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- I have a query regarding the meeting minutes.
- The help desk received a query from the London office.
American English
- Your query has been forwarded to our support team.
- The database query took longer than expected to process.
verb
British English
- The auditor queried several of the transactions.
- May I query you on that last point?
American English
- The senator queried the accuracy of the report.
- Researchers queried the dataset for anomalies.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please send any queries to this email address.
- I'd like to query the total on this invoice.
- The journalist queried the politician's claims during the press conference.
- A complex database query can affect system performance.
- His findings have been queried by peers in the field, leading to a lively academic debate.
- The application allows users to intuitively construct queries without knowledge of SQL.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'QUEstion + RY' (like 'inquiry') – a 'query' is a kind of question.
Conceptual Metaphor
INFORMATION SOUGHT IS AN OBJECT REQUESTED (submit a query), DOUBT IS A QUESTION (query the results).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not a general 'question' like 'вопрос' in casual chat; more formal/official. Do not confuse with 'запрос' which can be a 'request' for goods, not just information.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'query' as a casual synonym for 'ask' ('He queried me the time' – incorrect). Overusing in everyday speech where 'question' is more natural. Misspelling as 'querey'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'query' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral to formal. It's perfectly standard in professional and technical writing but might sound overly formal for a simple, casual question among friends.
A 'query' is a type of question, usually one seeking information, clarification, or raising a doubt in a formal or official context. All queries are questions, but not all questions are queries (e.g., rhetorical questions).
Yes. It means to ask a question about something, especially to express doubt or check accuracy (e.g., 'The accountant queried the unusual expense').
Yes, it's a fundamental term. A query is a request for data from a database or search engine, like a 'search query' on Google or an 'SQL query'.
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