ex ‧ plore S3 W2 /ɪkˈsplɔː $ -ˈsplɔːr/ BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ exploration , ↑ explorer ; adjective : ↑ exploratory , ↑ unexplored ; verb : ↑ explore ]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: explorare , from plorare 'to cry out' ; probably from the shouting of hunters when they see the animal they are trying to catch ]
1 . [transitive] to discuss or think about something carefully SYN look at :
Management need to explore ways of improving office security.
I’m going to explore the possibility of a part-time job.
2 . [intransitive and transitive] to travel around an area in order to find out about it:
Venice is a wonderful city to explore.
3 . explore (something) for oil/minerals/gold etc to look for something such as oil, minerals etc
4 . [transitive] written to feel something with your hand or another part of your body to find out what it is like:
Gingerly she explored the bump on her head with her fingers.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ investigate to try to find out the truth about something such as a crime, accident, or scientific problem:
Police are investigating an explosion in the city centre.
|
The aim of the study is to investigate how climate change is affecting animal behaviour.
|
There were fears he may have drowned in the lake, so divers were sent down to investigate.
▪ look into something to find out more about a problem, especially after someone has asked you to do this:
The manager promised to look into my complaint.
|
Please could you look into the matter for me?
▪ explore to consider or discuss something, in order to help you decide what you should do:
Military leaders are exploring new ways of defending the United States from terrorism.
|
I’m going to explore the possibility of a part-time job.
▪ probe [intransitive and transitive] to try to find secret or hidden information, especially by asking questions:
The press began probing into the actor’s private life.
|
We have been probing the reasons why the government has been so slow to react to the problem of climate change.
▪ delve [intransitive] to look somewhere in order to try to find more information about something, especially something that is difficult to find out about:
Over the past year Ms Deen has been delving into the national archives, in order to discover information on the early Muslim settlers.
|
I think we need to delve a little deeper.
▪ be under investigation if someone or their activities are under investigation, the police are trying to find out if they have done something illegal:
Several public figures are under investigation for corruption.