exploration-n; 3 Senses

Sense Number 1: geographic discovery

Commentary: EXPLORATION[+event] The act of traveling for the purposes of discovery. Involves physical travel to a location new to the explorer. Does not involve searching for anything in particular.

Examples:
NASA has decided to cut its budget for space exploration.
Late at night, John began his exploration of the laboratory.
The exploration of the New World brought wealth and fame to Amerigo Vespucci.
During my exploration of campus, I noticed a heads-up penny on the ground.

Mappings:
WordNet 2.0 Sense Numbers: 1

Sense Number 2: looking for something

Commentary: EXPLORATION[+event] The directed search for a specific object-- usually oil. Involves travel, but not necessarily to a new location.

Examples:
The President has opened Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil exploration.
Some pharmaceutical companies have engaged in herbal medicine explorations in the rain forest.

Mappings:
WordNet 2.0 Sense Numbers: 2

Sense Number 3: careful consideration

Commentary: EXPLORATION[+event] A metaphoric kind of journey; engaging in deep thought or experimentation on a topic.

Examples:
After an exploration of his academic options, John decided to major in Linguistics.
I've taken my students on a journey of spiritual exploration.
There's a Career Exploration Fair in the gym after school today.
The class was called, "Explorations of Medieval Medicine".
We encourage college students to undertake honest sexual exploration to discover their personal identities.

Mappings:
WordNet 2.0 Sense Numbers: 3