Word: explore (verb)

Associations

The word "explore" means to travel through a place to learn about it or to investigate something in detail. It is often used when talking about discovering new things or ideas.

• Example 1: "I want to explore the mountains this summer." (Here, it means to go to the mountains and discover what they are like.)
• Example 2: "Scientists explore new technologies to improve our lives." (In this case, it means to investigate and learn about new technologies.)
• Example 3: "Children love to explore their surroundings." (This means that children enjoy discovering and learning about the world around them.)

A well-known synonym for "explore" is "investigate." The main difference is that "investigate" often suggests a more formal inquiry, like in a police investigation, while "explore" can be more casual and about personal discovery.

Substitution

Instead of "explore," you could use:

• "discover" - This means to find something new, but it doesn't always mean looking around; you can discover ideas too.
• "survey" - This means to look over or examine something, often used in a more formal or systematic way.
• "research" - This involves studying something in detail, usually with a goal in mind, like gathering information.

Deconstruction

The word "explore" comes from the Latin word "explorare," which means "to investigate." It has the prefix "ex-" meaning "out" and the root "plorare," which means "to cry out" or "to make known." This implies that to explore is to bring something to light or make it known.

Inquiry

Think about these questions:

• What places would you like to explore, and why?
• Can you think of a time when you explored something new, like a hobby or a subject in school?
• How does exploring different cultures or ideas help us understand the world better?