exploration

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a systematic consideration

   They called for a careful exploration of the consequences.

2. 2
   noun

   The process of exploring.

   By this time, largely inspired by The Railway Magazine, I had begun to spread my wings, and had started on a long career of railway exploration.

3. 3
   noun

   The process of penetrating, or ranging over for purposes of (especially geographical) discovery.

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

4. 4
   noun

   to travel for the purpose of discovery

5. 5
   noun

   a careful systematic search

6. 6
   noun

   The (pre-)mining process of finding and determining commercially viable ore deposits (after prospecting), also called mineral exploration.

7. 7
   noun

   A physical examination of a patient.

Etymology

From Middle French exploration, from Latin exploratio. Morphologically explore + -ation.