From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
explore
v 1: inquire into; "the students had to research the history of
the Second World War for their history project"; "He
searched for information on his relatives on the web";
"Scientists are exploring the nature of consciousness"
[syn: research, search, explore]
2: travel to or penetrate into; "explore unknown territory in
biology"
3: examine minutely
4: examine (organs) for diagnostic purposes
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Explore \Ex*plore"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Explored; p. pr. &
vb. n. Exploring.] [L. explorare to explore; ex out+plorare
to cry out aloud,prob. orig., to cause to flow; perh. akin to
E. flow: cf. F. explorer.]
1. To seek for or after; to strive to attain by search; to
look wisely and carefully for. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
Explores the lost, the wandering sheep directs.
--Pope.
[1913 Webster]
2. To search through or into; to penetrate or range over for
discovery; to examine thoroughly; as, to explore new
countries or seas; to explore the depths of science.
"Hidden frauds [to] explore." --Dryden.
[1913 Webster]