investigator

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
investigator
    n 1: a scientist who devotes himself to doing research [syn:
         {research worker}, {researcher}, {investigator}]
    2: someone who investigates
    3: a police officer who investigates crimes [syn: {detective},
       {investigator}, {tec}, {police detective}]
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Investigator \In*ves"ti*ga`tor\, n. [L.: cf. F. investigateur.]
   One who searches diligently into a subject.
   [1913 Webster]
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Researcher \Re*search"er\ (-[~e]r), n.
   One who conducts research. In the field of scientific
   research, also called an {investigator} or {scientist}.
   [1913 Webster]
from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
38 Moby Thesaurus words for "investigator":
      Bow Street runner, FBI, FBI agent, Federal, G-man, Secret Service,
      Sherlock, Sherlock Holmes, T-man, detective, dick, examinant,
      examiner, eye, fed, gumshoe, hawkshaw, hotel detective,
      house detective, house dick, inquiry agent, inspector, narc,
      observer, operative, plainclothesman, police detective,
      private detective, private investigator, revenuer, scrutineer,
      sleuth, store detective, tec, tester, treasury agent, visitator,
      visitor
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