EXPLORE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does explore mean? 

• EXPLORE (verb)
  The verb EXPLORE has 4 senses:

1. inquire into

2. travel to or penetrate into

3. examine minutely

4. examine (organs) for diagnostic purposes

  Familiarity information: EXPLORE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• EXPLORE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they explore    ... he / she / it explores   
Past simple: explored   
Past participle: explored   
-ing form: exploring   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Inquire into

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

explore; research; search

Context example:

Scientists are exploring the nature of consciousness

Hypernyms (to "explore" is one way to...):

investigate; look into (investigate scientifically)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "explore"):

prospect (explore for useful or valuable things or substances, such as minerals)

google (search the internet (for information) using the Google search engine)

mapquest (search for a location and directions by means of the MapQuest program)

re-explore (explore anew)

beat about; cast about; cast around (search anxiously)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

They explore whether there was a traffic accident

Derivation:

exploration (a systematic consideration)

explorative; exploratory (serving in or intended for exploration or discovery)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Travel to or penetrate into

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Context example:

explore unknown territory in biology

Hypernyms (to "explore" is one way to...):

investigate; look into (investigate scientifically)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "explore"):

pioneer (open up and explore a new area)

cave; spelunk (explore natural caves)

map (explore or survey for the purpose of making a map)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

exploration (to travel for the purpose of discovery)

exploration (a systematic consideration)

explorative; exploratory (serving in or intended for exploration or discovery)

explorer (someone who travels into little known regions (especially for some scientific purpose))

Sense 3

Meaning:

Examine minutely

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "explore" is one way to...):

diagnose; name (determine or distinguish the nature of a problem or an illness through a diagnostic analysis)

Verb group:

explore (examine (organs) for diagnostic purposes)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "explore"):

plumb (examine thoroughly and in great depth)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

The men explore the area for animals

Derivation:

exploration (a careful systematic search)

exploration (a systematic consideration)

exploratory (serving in or intended for exploration or discovery)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Examine (organs) for diagnostic purposes

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "explore" is one way to...):

diagnose (subject to a medical analysis)

Verb group:

explore (examine minutely)

Domain category:

medicine; practice of medicine (the learned profession that is mastered by graduate training in a medical school and that is devoted to preventing or alleviating or curing diseases and injuries)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "explore"):

put out feelers (make some preliminary investigations or test the waters)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

exploration (a careful systematic search)

exploratory (serving in or intended for exploration or discovery)

 Context examples 

The new study explores the possibility that the light came from a black hole consuming another object, such as a star.

(NASA Satellite Spots a Mystery That's Gone in a Flash, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Aspirin has been investigated to explore its chemopreventive effect in cancers that are related to chronic inflammation, particularly in the prevention of colorectal cancer.

(An Aspirin A Day Keep Liver Cancer Away, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Microorganisms play important roles in the health and protection of coral reefs, but exploring these roles can be difficult because of the lack of unspoiled reef systems throughout the global ocean.

(Microbes reflect the health of coral reefs, National Science Foundation)

The scientists developed simulations that allowed them to explore how disturbances like hurricanes would affect the birds over time.

(Coastal birds can weather the storm, but not the sea, National Science Foundation)

Furthermore, this issue has never been explored in pregnant women with no severe metabolic disruptions.

(A new study highlights the importance of undertaking physical activity of moderate–vigorous intensity during the early weeks of pregnancy, University of Granada)

A large team of researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and Broad Institute explored the relationship among genetic mutations, plasma triglycerides, and coronary heart disease.

(Rare mutations reduce heart disease risk, NIH)

Rather than exploring the normal protoplanetary discs, researchers looked at heavy discs around supermassive black holes that sit in the heart of galaxies.

(Thousands of Planets Could Be Orbiting around Black Holes, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

And from the way I line it up, I'll explore a whole lot more quickly by myself.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

After breakfast I did a little exploring in the castle.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

“Well, well!” she said, smiting her small knees, and rising, “this is not business. Come, Steerforth, let's explore the polar regions, and have it over.”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)