explore
Americanverb (used with object)
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to traverse or range over (a region, area, etc.) for the purpose of discovery.
to explore the island.
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to look into closely; scrutinize; examine.
Let us explore the possibilities for improvement.
- Synonyms:
- survey, investigate, research, study, probe
-
Surgery. to investigate into, especially mechanically, as with a probe.
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Obsolete. to search for; search out.
verb (used without object)
verb
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(tr) to examine or investigate, esp systematically
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to travel to or into (unfamiliar or unknown regions), esp for organized scientific purposes
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(tr) med to examine (an organ or part) for diagnostic purposes
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obsolete (tr) to search for or out
Other Word Forms
- explorability noun
- explorable adjective
- explorer noun
- exploringly adverb
- reexplore verb
- unexplorable adjective
- unexplored adjective
Etymology
Origin of explore
First recorded in 1575–85; from Latin explōrāre “to search out, examine,” equivalent to ex- ex- 1 ( def. ) + plōrāre “to cry out,” probably originally with reference to hunting cries
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“They’re different things and the show explores both of them. I think Episode 4 explores the peaks and valleys of celebrity and the blessing and the curse of sudden celebrity.”
From Los Angeles Times
This 60-acre wildlife sanctuary and botanical garden is beautiful to wander, and you could easily spend a full day exploring.
From Salon
To tackle these challenges, a European research consortium that includes the Space Robotics Laboratory at the University of Malaga has developed a new mission concept focused on exploring lava tunnels.
From Science Daily
But this month it said it would be taking no further action against the suspect because of "limitations within the current legislation", adding it was exploring "civil routes" to tackle the issue.
From BBC
Using specialized electrodes, they were able to monitor roughly 100 individual place cells simultaneously as the animals explored and then rested.
From Science Daily
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
