What does EXPLORATION mean?

Definitions for EXPLORATION
ˌɛk spləˈreɪ ʃənex·plo·ration

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word EXPLORATION.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. exploration, geographic expeditionnoun

    to travel for the purpose of discovery

  2. explorationnoun

    a careful systematic search

  3. explorationnoun

    a systematic consideration

    "he called for a careful exploration of the consequences"

Wiktionary

  1. explorationnoun

    The act of exploring

  2. explorationnoun

    Notably penetrating, or ranging over for purposes of (especially geographical) discovery

    The exploration of 'unknown' areas often was the precursor to colonization.

  3. explorationnoun

    A physical examination.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Explorationnoun

    Search; examination.

    Etymology: from explorate.

    For exact exploration they should be suspended where the air is quiet, that, clear of impediments, they may the more freely convert upon their natural verticity. Thomas Browne, Vulgar Errours.

    Use may be made of the like way of exploration in that enquiry which puzzles so many modern naturalists. Boyle.

Wikipedia

  1. Exploration

    kaka Exploration is the process of exploring, an activity which has some expectation of discovery. Organised exploration is largely a human activity, but exploratory activity is common to most organisms capable of directed locomotion and the ability to learn, and has been described in, amongst others, social insects foraging behaviour, where feedback from returning individuals affects the activity of other members of the group. To examine or investigate something systematically. To examine diagnostically. To (seek) experience first hand. To wander without any particular aim or purpose.In all these definitions there is an implication of novelty, or unfamiliarity or the expectation of discovery in the exploration, whereas a survey implies directed examination, but not necessarily discovery of any previously unknown or unexpected information. The activities are not mutually exclusive, and often occur simultaneously to a variable extent. The same field of investigation or region may be explored at different times by different explorers with different motivations, who may make similar or different discoveries. Intrinsic exploration involves activity that is not directed towards a specific goal other than the activity itself.Extrinsic exploration has the same meaning as appetitive behavior. It is directed towards a specific goal.

ChatGPT

  1. exploration

    Exploration refers to the act or process of seeking knowledge, understanding, or new experiences in unfamiliar or uncharted territories, whether it be physical locations, scientific fields, conceptual ideas, or personal growth. It involves venturing into the unknown, pushing boundaries, and conducting research or investigation to discover, map, and learn about previously undiscovered or less-known aspects. Exploration is often motivated by curiosity, a desire for discovery, and the pursuit of advancement in various spheres.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Explorationnoun

    the act of exploring, penetrating, or ranging over for purposes of discovery, especially of geographical discovery; examination; as, the exploration of unknown countries

  2. Explorationnoun

    physical examination

  3. Etymology: [L. exploratio: cf. F. exploration.]

Wikidata

  1. Exploration

    Exploration is the act of searching or traveling around a terrain for the purpose of discovery of resources or information; Exploration occurs in all non-sessile animal species, including humans. In human history, its peak is arguably seen during the Age of Discovery for Europe's contact with the rest of the world, and major explorations after the Age of Discovery for scientific exploration in the modern era.

Matched Categories

British National Corpus

  1. Nouns Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'EXPLORATION' in Nouns Frequency: #2127

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of EXPLORATION in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of EXPLORATION in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of EXPLORATION in a Sentence

  1. John W. Gardner:

    We pay a heavy price for our fear of failure. It is a powerful obstacle to growth. It assures the progressive narrowing of the personality and prevents exploration and experimentation. There is no learning without some difficulty and fumbling. If you want to keep on learning, you must keep on risking failure all your life.

  2. Joanna Barstow:

    Since long before we started our robotic exploration of the solar system, we wondered if there was life on another world, some of the moons of Jupiter, even though their surfaces are covered with ice, might have liquid water oceans hiding under the surface. Maybe they are sheltering bacterial life as well ? We'd love to find out.

  3. Riccardo Pozzobon:

    The existence of stable huge voids below the Moon subsurface, potentially accessible through skylights, could change the paradigm on how we approach planetary exploration in terms of mission design, planetary human outposts and scientific research, accessing these caves and( analyzing) this type of subsurface environment will present new technological challenges but also could provide unexpected scientific discoveries.

  4. T. S. Eliot, Little Gidding:

    We shall not cease from exploration. And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.

  5. Rainer Seele:

    We look forward to evaluating the opportunities of OMV in Iran and the cooperation with NIOC to evaluate whether there are areas of potential cooperation in the exploration and development of oil and gas.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

EXPLORATION#1#5829#10000

Translations for EXPLORATION

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"EXPLORATION." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 16 Mar. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/EXPLORATION>.

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