/ik splawr"euhr, -splohr"-/ , n.
1. a person or thing that explores.
2. a person who investigates unknown regions: the great explorers of the Renaissance.
3. any instrument used in exploring or sounding a wound, a cavity in a tooth, or the like.
4. ( cap. ) Also called Explorer Scout . a person between the ages 14 and 20 who is an active participant in the exploring program sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America.
5. ( cap. ) Aerospace. one of a long series of U.S. scientific satellites: Explorer 1 (1958) was the first U.S. artificial satellite.
[ 1675-85; EXPLORE + -ER 1 ]