explore
[ik-splawr, -splohr]
- to traverse or range over (a region, area, etc.) for the purpose of discovery: to explore the island.
- to look into closely; scrutinize; examine: Let us explore the possibilities for improvement.
- Surgery. to investigate into, especially mechanically, as with a probe.
- Obsolete. to search for; search out.
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- to engage in exploration.
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Origin of explore
1575–85; < Latin explōrāre to search out, examine, equivalent to ex- ex-1 + plōrāre to cry out, probably orig. with reference to hunting cries
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
trysearchprobescrutinizeresearchexaminetestanalyzeseekprospecttraverseinspecttravelhuntquestiontoursiftscoutburrowreconnoitreExamples from the Web for exploring
Contemporary Examples
And, thanks to a transparent hull, exploring the deep and spotting rare marine life is practically a cinch.
And it might be easiest of all imagining him “exploring” a candidacy for a while and then deciding the hell with it.
New York City at the time, according to McBride, attracts men and women who are exploring and expressing their sexual difference.
Exploring the pangs of this tumultuous relationship is what most attracted Kent to this project.
‘The Babadook’ Is the Best (and Most Sincere) Horror Movie of the YearSamuel Fragoso
November 30, 2014
“This project is a wonderful vehicle for exploring and demonstrating how we go about finding out what is true,” he says.
Historical Examples
This remained to be ascertained in exploring that river upwards.
With every stage of it Newbury was revealing himself; and exploring her.
The Coryston FamilyMrs. Humphry Ward
For exploring into its darkness I found that of course it did have walls like any common building.
The HarborErnest Poole
"Hul-lo," he cried, exploring to see whether the bathroom chair was dry.
The Education of Eric LaneStephen McKenna
Plainly if exploring of those upper rooms was to be done it must be done at once.
Thankful's InheritanceJoseph C. Lincoln
explore
- (tr) to examine or investigate, esp systematically
- to travel to or into (unfamiliar or unknown regions), esp for organized scientific purposes
- (tr) med to examine (an organ or part) for diagnostic purposes
- (tr) obsolete to search for or out
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Word Origin
C16: from Latin explōrāre, from ex- 1 + plōrāre to cry aloud; probably from the shouts of hunters sighting prey
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for exploring
explore
v.
1580s, "to investigate, examine," a back-formation from exploration, or else from Middle French explorer (16c.), from Latin explorare "investigate, search out, examine, explore," said to be originally a hunters' term meaning "set up a loud cry," from ex- "out" (see ex-) + plorare "to cry."
But second element also explained as "to make to flow," from pluere "to flow." Meaning "to go to a country or place in quest of discoveries" is first attested 1610s. Related: Explored; exploring.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
explore
(ĭk-splôr′)- To examine for diagnostic purposes.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.