reconnoitering

re·con·noi·ter

R0088600 (rē′kə-noi′tər, rĕk′ə-)v. re·con·noi·tered, re·con·noi·ter·ing, re·con·noi·ters v.tr. To make a preliminary examination of (an area or a group, for example), usually by moving around and observing, in order to gather information, especially for military purposes: reconnoitered the enemy positions.v.intr. To make a reconnaissance or preliminary examination.n. An act of reconnoitering.

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[Obsolete French reconnoître, from Old French reconoistre, to recognize; see recognize.]

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re′con·noi′ter·er n.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

reconnoitering - exploring in order to gain information; "scouting in enemy territory is very dangerous"exploratory survey, reconnoitring, scoutingreconnaissance, reconnaissance mission - the act of reconnoitring (especially to gain information about an enemy or potential enemy); "an exchange of fire occurred on a reconnaissance mission"