exploration

[ ek-spluh-rey-shuhn ]
See synonyms for exploration on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. an act or instance of exploring or investigating; examination.

  2. the investigation of unknown regions.

Origin of exploration

1
First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin explōrātiōn-, stem of explōrātiō “examination,” from explōrāt(us) “searched out, examined” (past participle of explōrāre “to search out, examine”; see explore) + -iō -ion

Other words from exploration

  • re·ex·plo·ra·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use exploration in a sentence

  • Around four o'clock the children took a long walk in the opposite direction from any of their other explorations.

    The Box-Car Children | Gertrude Chandler Warner
  • Mitchell, a North Carolina geologist, was killed by a fall into the Caney river, while engaged alone in scientific explorations.

  • Recent explorations indicate that the best route to the Pacific will be found up the valley of this magnificent river.

  • Thurstane, thinking that he might have rivers to cross in his explorations, had brought one of these coracles.

    Overland | John William De Forest
  • It seems to me we could not have a better place for our head-quarters in our future explorations than this cavern.

British Dictionary definitions for exploration

exploration

/ (ˌɛkspləˈreɪʃən) /


noun
  1. the act or process of exploring

  2. med examination of an organ or part for diagnostic purposes

  1. an organized trip into unfamiliar regions, esp for scientific purposes; expedition

Derived forms of exploration

  • exploratory (ɪkˈsplɒrətərɪ, -trɪ) or explorative, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012