explore

ex·plore

verb \ik-ˈsplȯr\

ex·ploredex·plor·ing

Definition of EXPLORE

transitive verb

1

a : to investigate, study, or analyze : look into <explore the relationship between social class and learning ability> —sometimes used with indirect questions <to explore where ethical issues arise — R. T. Blackburn> b : to become familiar with by testing or experimenting <explore new cuisines>

2

: to travel over (new territory) for adventure or discovery

3

: to examine especially for diagnostic purposes <explore the wound>

intransitive verb

: to make or conduct a systematic search <explore for oil>

Examples of EXPLORE

1. Researchers are exploring how language is acquired by children.
2. The book explores a number of controversial issues.
3. You need to explore your feelings on this subject more carefully.
4. an opportunity to explore different activities
5. The children were encouraged to explore mathematics.
6. I decided to go out and explore the town.
7. They were sent to explore unknown regions of Africa.

Origin of EXPLORE

Latin explorare, from ex- + plorare to cry out

First Known Use: 1585

Related to EXPLORE

Synonyms: delve (into), dig (into), examine, inquire (into), investigate, look (into), probe, research, check into, check up on

Related Words: inspect, sift, study, view; browse, cruise, peruse, scan, skim (through), surf, thumb (through); coinvestigate, reinvestigate

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with EXPLORE

abhor, adore, afore, and/or, as for, ashore, backdoor, bailor, bandore, Bangor, bedsore, before, bezoar, bookstore, box score, but for, call for, candor, captor, centaur, chain store, claymore, closed-door, cold sore, cold store, condor, Côte d'Or, decor, deplore, dime-store, Dior, done for, donor, downpour, drugstore, Dutch door, encore, ephor, eyesore, fall for, feoffor, fetor, Fillmore, first floor, flexor, folklore, footsore, foreshore, fourscore, French door, full-bore, Gabor, galore, Glen More, go for, ground floor, gun for, hard-core, hog score, ichor, ignore, implore, Indore, indoor, in for, inshore, in-store, Kotor, Lahore, lakeshore, lector, lee shore, lessor, line score, look for, Luxor, memoir, mentor, Mysore, nearshore, Nestor, next-door, offshore, onshore, outdoor, outpour, phosphor, psywar, rancor, rapport, raptor, raw score, Realtor, restore, rhetor, savior, seafloor, seashore, sector, seignior, Senghor, senhor, sensor, settlor, Seymour, signor, smoothbore, s'more, soft-core, sophomore, stand for, stentor, stertor, storm door, Strathmore, stressor, stridor, subfloor, swear for, Tagore, take for, temblor, tensor, therefor, therefore, threescore, Timor, trapdoor, turgor, uproar, vendor, what's more, wherefore, wild boar, woodlore, z-score