exploratory
adjective /ɪkˈsplɒrətri/
/ɪkˈsplɔːrətɔːri/
- done with the intention of examining something in order to find out more about it
- exploratory surgery
- exploratory drilling for oil
- an exploratory expedition up the Amazon
- Exploratory discussions between management and the unions have ended in stalemate.
Oxford Collocations DictionaryExploratory is used with these nouns:- meeting
- operation
- stage
- …
Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin exploratorius, from Latin explorare ‘search out’, from ex- ‘out’ + plorare ‘utter a cry’.