exploration

American  

[ek-spluh-rey-shuhn] / ˌɛk spləˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

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

2. the investigation of unknown regions.

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exploration British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• exploratory adjective
• reexploration noun

Etymology

Origin of exploration

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

“Every musician should always try to find the roots to see where all that comes from,” says Moreno of her early musical explorations.

From Los Angeles Times

The Northern Ireland Executive has approved legislation that will permanently end petroleum exploration and licensing, including fracking, in Northern Ireland.

From BBC

The two countries also concluded over a dozen bilateral agreements, including on cybersecurity, trade, space exploration, education, investment, agriculture and economic cooperation.

From BBC

But tragedy, an exploration of human misery, dates back to the Greeks and expresses agonies as old as our species.

From The Wall Street Journal

Holtz's study, "Bringing up baby: preliminary exploration of the effect of ontogenetic niche partitioning in dinosaurs versus long-term maternal care in mammals in their respective ecosystems," was published in the Italian Journal of Geosciences.

From Science Daily

Related Words

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