exploration

[ek-spluh-rey-shuhn]

noun

1. an act or instance of exploring or investigating; examination.

2. the investigation of unknown regions.

exploration

/ ˌɛkspləˈreɪʃən, ɪkˈsplɒrətərɪ, -trɪ /

noun

1. the act or process of exploring

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

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

Other Word Forms

• exploratory adjective
• reexploration noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of exploration¹

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”; explore ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

China’s government, the Nobel committee noted, halted geographical exploration in the 1430s, cutting its people off from the rest of the world.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He called it "a shame" that the United States was "drawing back" from scientific exploration in the region.

Read more on Barron's

What excites Betley with this discovery is the further exploration of its potential to "use Y1 neural activity as a biomarker for chronic pain, something drug developers and clinicians have long lacked," he says.

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"Our study is therefore based exclusively on data from European Mars exploration," Bickel continues.

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He set up a national system for reporting the weather, established international exchanges of research, and supported explorations of territories unveiled by the westward expansion.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• analysis 
• examination 
• expedition 
• inspection 
• research 
• search 
• study 
• travel