exploratory
gb/ɪksplˈɔɹətˌɔɹi/ us/ɪksplˈɔɹətˌɔɹi/
B2
English
feltáró, kísérletező
B2
FORMAL
1
feltáró
C1
Usage pattern:
exploratory [research/talks/work/procedure]
The company held exploratory talks with two possible partners before making an offer.
A cég feltáró tárgyalásokat folytatott két lehetséges partnerrel, mielőtt ajánlatot tett.
The first phase of the project is exploratory, so the team is collecting questions rather than proposing solutions.
A projekt első szakasza feltáró jellegű, ezért a csapat inkább kérdéseket gyűjt, mintsem megoldásokat javasol.
Doctors recommended an exploratory procedure to find the cause of the pain.
Learner examples
We had an exploratory meeting to see if we could work together.
Volt egy feltáró megbeszélésünk, hogy lássuk, tudnánk-e együtt dolgozni.
The study was exploratory and did not give a final answer.
A kutatás feltáró jellegű volt, és nem adott végleges választ.
Common mistake:
Exploratory does not mean final or conclusive; it usually describes early-stage information gathering.
Meaning
Preliminary investigation or testing
Collocations
exploratory research
|exploratory study
|exploratory analysis
|exploratory talks
|exploratory meeting
|exploratory work
|exploratory phase
|exploratory visit
|exploratory surgery
|exploratory drilling
Synonyms
preliminary (emphasizes that it comes before a main decision or action)
|
investigative (emphasizes looking for facts, causes, or information)
|
probing (suggests careful searching through questions, tests, or discussion)
Antonyms
conclusive (gives a final answer rather than looking for one)
|
definitive (settled and authoritative rather than tentative)
|
confirmatory (designed to confirm a hypothesis rather than discover possibilities)
Themes
research
|business
|science
|medicine
|decision_making
Definition
done to find out more about something before deciding what to do or what is true.
intended to investigate, examine, or test something in order to learn more, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion.
C1
2
kísérletező
B2
Usage pattern:
an exploratory [approach/style/session]; exploratory play/learning
The course includes exploratory exercises that let students test different ways of solving a problem.
A kurzus olyan kísérletező gyakorlatokat is tartalmaz, amelyekben a diákok különböző problémamegoldási módokat próbálhatnak ki.
Her early sketches were exploratory rather than polished.
A korai vázlatai inkább kísérletező jellegűek voltak, mint kidolgozottak.
Young children often learn through exploratory play.
Learner examples
The teacher used an exploratory activity in class.
A tanár egy kísérletező feladatot adott az órán.
The artist made exploratory drawings before the final painting.
A művész kísérletező vázlatokat készített a végső festmény előtt.
Common mistake:
Use curious for a person who wants to know things; exploratory usually describes activities, methods, approaches, or behavior.
Meaning
Open-ended creative exploration
Collocations
exploratory approach
|exploratory play
|exploratory learning
|exploratory exercise
|exploratory session
|exploratory behavior
|exploratory style
|exploratory writing
|exploratory design
|exploratory movement
Synonyms
experimental (emphasizes trying new methods to see what works)
|
open-ended (emphasizes that the result is not fixed in advance)
|
improvisational (emphasizes spontaneous trial and creation)
Antonyms
prescriptive (follows set rules rather than free exploration)
|
fixed (has a set form or outcome)
|
conventional (uses established methods rather than trying possibilities)
Themes
education
|creativity
|arts
|psychology
Definition
designed to let people try different possibilities and discover things for themselves.
involving the free trying out of ideas, methods, or activities without a fixed outcome.
Grammar
Dictionary form
exploratory
IPA
GB/ɪksplˈɔɹətˌɔɹi/
US/ɪksplˈɔɹətˌɔɹi/
Syllables & stress
ex - plor - at - ory (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (plor)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: exploratory
Expressions
exploratory committee
1/ɪksplˈɔɹətˌɔɹi kəmˈɪti/
fixed phrase
Potential-campaign committee
a group that helps someone decide whether to become a political candidate.
Examples
- The senator launched an exploratory committee for a possible presidential campaign.
- A potential candidate can use an exploratory committee to hire staff and measure public support.
- After three months, she closed the exploratory committee and announced her run.
Learner examples
- He started an exploratory committee before deciding to run.
- The committee helped her test support for a campaign.
exploratory data analysis
1/ɪksplˈɔɹətˌɔɹi dˈætə ænˈælɪsɪs/
fixed phrase
technical
Initial data examination
looking closely at data first to find patterns, problems, and useful questions.
Examples
- Exploratory data analysis revealed several outliers in the customer dataset.
- The team used charts and summary statistics during exploratory data analysis.
- Before building the model, she spent a day on exploratory data analysis.
Learner examples
- Exploratory data analysis helped us see unusual values.
- EDA often comes before the final statistical model.
exploratory drilling
1/ɪksplˈɔɹətˌɔɹi dɹˈɪlɪŋ/
fixed phrase
technical
Test drilling for resources
test drilling to see what is underground
Examples
- Exploratory drilling confirmed that the area contained natural gas.
- The project will not move to production unless exploratory drilling is successful.
- Residents asked for more information before the company began exploratory drilling.
Learner examples
- Exploratory drilling tests the ground.
- The company started exploratory drilling.
exploratory drilling
1/ɪksplˈɔɹətˌɔɹi dɹˈɪlɪŋ/
fixed phrase
technical
Resource-search drilling
drilling into the ground to see whether useful resources are there.
Examples
- The company began exploratory drilling after seismic surveys suggested a large gas field.
- Environmental groups opposed exploratory drilling near the coast.
- Exploratory drilling confirmed the presence of copper beneath the site.
Learner examples
- The company did exploratory drilling to look for gas.
- Exploratory drilling showed that there were minerals underground.
exploratory research
1/ɪksplˈɔɹətˌɔɹi ɹisˈɚt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
technical
Early-stage research
research done to get early information and ideas before doing a more exact study.
Examples
- We conducted exploratory research before designing the survey.
- The report is based on exploratory research, so its findings should be tested in a larger study.
- Exploratory research helped the team understand why users were abandoning the app.
Learner examples
- They did exploratory research before starting the project.
- Exploratory research gives early ideas, not final proof.
exploratory surgery
1/ɪksplˈɔɹətˌɔɹi sˈɚd͡ʒɚi/
fixed phrase
technical
Diagnostic surgery
an operation done to find out what is wrong inside the body.
Examples
- She underwent exploratory surgery to determine the source of the internal bleeding.
- The scans were unclear, so the surgeon recommended an exploratory operation.
- Exploratory surgery showed that the tumor had not spread.
Learner examples
- The doctor did exploratory surgery to find the problem.
- Exploratory surgery helps doctors see what is wrong inside the body.
exploratory talks
1/ɪksplˈɔɹətˌɔɹi tˈɔks/
fixed phrase
formal
Preliminary discussions
early talks to see whether an agreement might be possible.
Examples
- The two parties held exploratory talks about forming a coalition.
- Management is in exploratory talks with a potential buyer.
- The talks are exploratory and may not lead to a formal deal.
Learner examples
- They had exploratory talks before signing anything.
- The meeting was only to see if an agreement was possible.
exploratory testing
1/ɪksplˈɔɹətˌɔɹi tˈɛstɪŋ/
fixed phrase
technical
Flexible software testing
testing software by trying it freely and learning as you test, not only by following a script.
Examples
- The QA team used exploratory testing to find problems that scripted tests had missed.
- Exploratory testing is useful when requirements are still changing.
- After the automated tests passed, the testers spent an hour on exploratory testing.
Learner examples
- They used exploratory testing to find hidden bugs.
- Exploratory testing lets testers try different paths through the app.