explorer

American  

[ik-splawr-er] / ɪkˈsplɔr ər /

noun

1. a person or thing that explores.

2. a person who investigates unknown regions.

   the great explorers of the Renaissance.

3. any instrument used in exploring or sounding a wound, a cavity in a tooth, or the like.

4. Also called Explorer Scout.  (initial capital letter) a person between the ages 14 and 20 who is an active participant in the exploring program sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America.

5. (initial capital letter) one of a long series of U.S. scientific satellites: Explorer 1 (1958) was the first U.S. artificial satellite.

---

Explorer ¹ British  

/ ɪkˈsplɔːrə /

noun

1. Brit equivalent: Venture Scout.  a member of the senior branch of the Scouts

---

Explorer ² British  

/ ɪkˈsplɔːrə /

noun

1. any of the first series of US satellites. Explorer 1 , launched in 1958, confirmed the existence of intense radiation belts around the earth

---

Etymology

Origin of explorer

First recorded in 1675–85; explore + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Academic Bradley Garrett from the University of Sydney has previously embedded himself with urban explorers in London and has written a number of books on the subject.

From BBC

What Mr. Restall means is that the great explorer is still at the center of a swarm of unresolved polemics.

From The Wall Street Journal

In these awful, uncertain times, it is heartening that “Star Trek,” that most good-hearted, proudly progressive of space operas, continues to create new missions for fresh multiplanetary crews of explorers.

From Los Angeles Times

Work is under way on a South Atlantic island to preserve a key building in the story of polar explorer Ernest Shackleton.

From BBC

For future explorers hoping to live and work on Mars, one fundamental question must be answered first: What time is it on Mars?

From Science Daily