Explore

Pronunciation

• RP enPR: Ä­ksplô', IPA: /ɪkˈsplɔː/
• US enPR: Ä­ksplôr', IPA: /ɪkˈsplɔːɹ/
• Rhymes: -ɔː(r)

Origin

From Middle French explorer, from Latin explorare ("to investigate, search out"), itself said to be originally a hunters' term meaning "to set up a loud cry", from ex- ("out") + plorare ("to cry"), but the second element is also explained as "to make to flow" (from pluere ("to flow")).

Full definition of explore

Verb

1. (intransitive, obsolete) To seek for something or after someone.
2. (transitive) To examine or investigate something systematically.
   The committee has been exploring alternative solutions to the problem at hand.
• 2013, Katie L. Burke, In the News, Bats host many high-profile viruses that can infect humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome and Ebola. A recent study explored the ecological variables that may contribute to bats’ propensity to harbor such zoonotic diseases by comparing them with another order of common reservoir hosts: rodents.
3. (transitive) To travel somewhere in search of discovery.
   It was around that time that the expedition began exploring the Arctic Circle.
4. (intransitive, medicine) To examine diagnostically.
5. (transitive) To (seek) experience first hand.
   It is normal for a boy of this age to be exploring his sexuality.
6. (intransitive) To be engaged exploring in any of the above senses.
   He was too busy exploring to notice his son needed his guidance.
7. (intransitive) To wander without any particular aim or purpose.
   The boys explored all around till cold and hunger drove them back to the campfire one by one.

Synonyms

• (examine or investigate systematically) delve into, research

Derived terms

• explorer

Related terms

• exploration
• explorative
• exploratory