exploratory

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ɪkˈsplɔrətɔri/ UK /ɪkˈsplɒrətəri/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
relating to or carried out for the purpose of investigation

Surgeons performed exploratory surgery to find the cause.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · relating to or carried out... explorative investigative probing searching experimental inquiringfact-finding

Opposites

conclusive definitive final

Word family

Related forms explore exploration explorer explorative

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

exploratory survey
an initial investigation intended to gather information about an unfamiliar subject or area

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Latin exploratorius ('belonging to scouting'), from explorare ('to investigate, search out'), perhaps from ex- ('out') + plorare ('to cry out').

exploratorius Latin explorare Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# exploratory

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ɪkˈsplɔrətɔri/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪkˈsplɒrətəri/

## Meanings
1. relating to or carried out for the purpose of investigation

## Examples
- Surgeons performed exploratory surgery to find the cause.

## Synonyms
- explorative
- investigative
- probing
- searching
- experimental
- inquiring
- fact-finding

## Antonyms
- conclusive
- definitive
- final

## Related Forms
- explore
- exploration
- explorer
- explorative

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: exploratorius
- Root: explorare

## Etymology
From Latin exploratorius ('belonging to scouting'), from explorare ('to investigate, search out'), perhaps from ex- ('out') + plorare ('to cry out').

## AI Etymology
Exploratory comes from Latin exploratorius ('belonging to scouting'), from explorare ('to investigate, search out'), perhaps from ex- ('out') + plorare ('to cry out'). The etymological trail includes Latin exploratorius and Latin explorare. As an adjective, exploratory describes what is relating to or carried out for the purpose of investigation. The same family is visible in related forms such as explore, exploration, explorer, and explorative. The wording should be read with that uncertainty intact: the proposed connection is plausible rather than absolute.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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