exploration
Pluralexplorations (some meanings)
- 1The process of traveling through or into a region, especially unknown or unmapped territory, for the purpose of discovery.
The polar regions remained blank on maps until systematic exploration began in the nineteenth century.
Robotic probes now carry out much of the exploration of the outer solar system.
- 2The process of examining, investigating, or searching through something in order to learn about it.
The therapy sessions involved gentle exploration of childhood memories.
Careful exploration of the dataset revealed an unexpected pattern in the results.
Similarexamination, investigation, analysis, study
Note
The broad sense the others narrow: Middle French exploration, from Latin exploratio, and in English simply explore plus -ation. It usually takes an of-phrase for what is searched, as in exploration of a theme. A noun in front can also name the field, as in M. D. Greville's "a long career of railway exploration" (Railway Magazine, 1957). That is a hobby of learning a network, not charting unknown territory.
- 3The stage before mining in which companies locate ore deposits and determine whether they are commercially viable, following initial prospecting; also called mineral exploration.
After promising surface samples, the firm budgeted ten million dollars for exploration of the site.
Drilling is the most expensive phase of exploration, so geologists choose target sites carefully.
- 4A doctor's or dentist's close physical examination of a patient or of one part of the body.
Exploration of the abdomen revealed no sign of internal bleeding.
The dentist carried out brief exploration of the cracked tooth before recommending treatment.
Similarexamination, inspection, investigation
Note
Clinical writing uses the word for an examination aimed at one region, nearly always followed by of: exploration of the abdomen, of a wound, of a tooth. It covers hands-on or instrumental checking and, as surgical exploration, the opening of a body cavity to find the nature and extent of an injury or disease. Unlike the everyday sense, it reports a procedure rather than an inquiry.
Practice
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Origin
This word comes from Middle French exploration, which in turn derives from Latin exploratio; it can also be analyzed as explore plus the suffix -ation.