exploration

Plural: explorations

Noun

• to travel for the purpose of discovery
• a careful systematic search
• a systematic consideration
  • "he called for a careful exploration of the consequences"
• The process of exploring.
• The process of penetrating, or ranging over for purposes of (especially geographical) discovery.
• The (pre-)mining process of finding and determining commercially viable ore deposits (after prospecting), also called mineral exploration.
• A physical examination of a patient.

Examples

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

Synonyms

geographic expedition

Related Words

explorative, exploratory, explorer