explorer

[ ik-splawr-er, -splohr- ]
/ ɪkˈsplɔr ər, -ˈsploʊr- /

noun

a person or thing that explores.
a person who investigates unknown regions: the great explorers of the Renaissance.
any instrument used in exploring or sounding a wound, a cavity in a tooth, or the like.
(initial capital letter) Also called Explorer Scout. a person between the ages 14 and 20 who is an active participant in the exploring program sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America.
(initial capital letter) Aerospace. one of a long series of U.S. scientific satellites: Explorer 1 (1958) was the first U.S. artificial satellite.

Origin of explorer

First recorded in 1675–85; explore + -er1

Example sentences from the Web for explorer

British Dictionary definitions for explorer (1 of 2)

Explorer 1
/ (ɪkˈsplɔːrə) /

noun

US a member of the senior branch of the Scouts Brit equivalent: Venture Scout

British Dictionary definitions for explorer (2 of 2)

Explorer 2
/ (ɪkˈsplɔːrə) /

noun

any of the first series of US satellites. Explorer 1, launched in 1958, confirmed the existence of intense radiation belts around the earth

Medical definitions for explorer

explorer
[ ĭk-splôrər ]

n.

A sharp, pointed probe used on tooth surfaces to detect caries or other defects.