# explore

Pronunciation: US say "ik-SPLOR" /ɪkˈsploɹ/; UK say "ik-SPLAW" /ɪkˈsplɔː/

## Verb

1. To travel into a place in order to discover what is there.
   - Simple: To travel through a new place to find out what is there.
   - _Scientists hope to explore the ocean floor near the volcanic ridge._
   - _The expedition explored several uncharted valleys before winter set in._
2. To study or investigate something in a careful, methodical way.
   - Simple: To look at something carefully, step by step, to learn more about it.
   - _The committee will explore every option before making a decision._
   - _Her latest book explores the roots of economic inequality._
3. To seek out and experience something firsthand.
   - Simple: To try new things yourself to learn what they are really like.
   - _After college, she set out to explore the music scenes of different cities._
   - _He explored Buddhism for several years before committing to it._
4. To roam about freely without any fixed aim or destination.
   - Simple: To walk or move around with no real plan, just to see things.
   - _On weekends they like to explore through the back alleys of the old city._
   - _She wandered off to explore while the others rested in the shade._
5. To be actively occupied in exploring, whether traveling, searching, or investigating.
   - Simple: To be busy traveling, searching, or examining things.
   - _Given a free day, the students would rather explore than lie on the beach._
   - _The crew explored tirelessly through the long polar night._
6. To examine diagnostically, especially by looking directly inside the body during a medical procedure.
   - Simple: To look carefully inside the body to find out what is wrong.
   - _The surgeon chose to explore before committing to a full procedure._
   - _When imaging proves inconclusive, physicians may explore directly._
8. To seek out a variety of sexual experiences; to sow one's wild oats.
   - Simple: To look for new sexual or romantic experiences, often with more than one partner.
   - _Before committing to one person, he wanted to explore his options._
   - _She explored several relationships during her years abroad._

## Noun

7. A casual look around a place to see what it is like. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: A short trip around a place to see what it is like.
   - _After lunch we went for an explore along the harbor._
   - _The kids begged for an explore before heading home._

## Verb

9. To search for something sought or after someone missing. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To look for something or someone that is lost.
   - _He bade his men explore after the vanished messenger._
   - _The villagers explored for the lost pilgrim well into the night._

## Origin

From Middle French explorer, from Latin explōrāre ("to investigate, search out"). It is said to have originally been a hunters' term meaning "to set up a loud cry", from ex- ("out") plus plōrāre ("to cry"), though the second part is also explained as "to make to flow" (from pluere, "to flow").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/explore (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).