/ ɪkˈsplɒrətri; NAmE ɪkˈsplɔːrətɔːri/ adjective
done with the intention of examining sth in order to find out more about it :
exploratory surgery
exploratory drilling for oil
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Latin exploratorius , from Latin explorare search out, from ex- out + plorare utter a cry.