To inspect means to examine something carefully and closely to check its condition, quality, or safety. When a teacher inspects your science project, she looks at every detail to see if you followed the instructions and did quality work. When health inspectors visit a restaurant, they check the kitchen to make sure the food is being prepared safely and cleanly.

An inspection involves careful, thorough examination, often with a checklist or specific things to look for. A mechanic inspects a car's brakes before you drive it. A building inspector examines a house's foundation, electrical wiring, and plumbing. Airport security agents inspect luggage for dangerous items.

When you inspect your Halloween candy, you're checking each piece carefully before eating it. When a coach inspects the soccer field before a game, she's making sure it's safe to play on.

You can also inspect your own work before turning it in, checking for mistakes or things you might have missed. That kind of self-inspection, where you carefully review what you've done, can make the difference between good work and excellent work.