Also means
investigation
Usage Note
Ricerca covers both academic 'research' (fare ricerca, to do research) and a literal 'search' or 'quest.' The verb ricercare is formal; everyday searching uses cercare. In Italian universities, a ricercatore/ricercatrice is a junior academic researcher — roughly equivalent to a lecturer or assistant professor.
Examples
"La ricerca dura tre anni."
Natural Translation
The research lasts three years.

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