exploration
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
travelling through an unfamiliar area to learn about it or find something new.
the act of searching or travelling through a region for the purpose of discovery, particularly in a geographical or scientific context.
Simple“Space exploration has taught us a lot about the planets in our solar system.”
In context“Early polar exploration was fraught with danger, as crews often lacked the technology to survive the extreme conditions of the Arctic winter.”
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
the careful study of an idea, a subject, or a problem.
the systematic examination or investigation of a topic, concept, or artistic theme.
Simple“The book is an exploration of how technology changes our daily lives.”
In context“The documentary provides a profound exploration of the socio-economic factors that contributed to the city's industrial decline.”
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
a physical examination of a patient's body to find the cause of a problem.
the physical or surgical examination of a patient's body or an organ to diagnose a condition.
Simple“The doctor performed a careful exploration of the wound to check for infection.”
In context“The surgeon recommended a laparoscopic exploration to determine the extent of the internal damage before proceeding with the full operation.”
Synonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
the work of searching for valuable materials like oil, gold, or metal in the ground.
the process of searching for and determining the commercial viability of mineral or fossil fuel deposits.
Simple“The company spent millions on oil exploration in the North Sea.”
In context“Mineral exploration in the region has intensified as global demand for lithium and other rare earth elements continues to rise.”
Synonyms
Usage exploration of
“An original, rich and gripping tale that’s also an interesting exploration of the power of faith.”
“And Cosby says that will be essential as Nasa – and other space agencies around the world – begin to build a Moon base and ramp up further exploration.”
From Middle French exploration, from Latin exploratio. Morphologically explore + -ation.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.