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Explore vs Encounter - What's the difference?

explore | encounter |

As verbs the difference between explore and encounter

is that explore is while encounter is to meet (someone) or find (something) unexpectedly.

As a noun encounter is

an unplanned or unexpected meeting.

explore

English

Verb

(explor)
  • (obsolete) To seek for something or after someone.
  • To examine or investigate something systematically.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author= Katie L. Burke
  • , title= In the News , volume=101, issue=3, page=193, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Bats host many high-profile viruses that can infect humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome and Ebola. A recent study explored the ecological variables that may contribute to bats’ propensity to harbor such zoonotic diseases by comparing them with another order of common reservoir hosts: rodents.}}
  • To travel somewhere in search of discovery.
  • (medicine) To examine diagnostically.
  • To (seek) experience first hand.
  • To be engaged exploring in any of the above senses.
  • To wander without any particular aim or purpose.
  • *
  • They stayed together during three dances, went out on to the terrace, explored' wherever they were permitted to ' explore , paid two visits to the buffet, and enjoyed themselves much in the same way as if they had been school-children surreptitiously breaking loose from an assembly of grown-ups.

    Synonyms

    * (examine or investigate systematically) delve into, research

    Derived terms

    * explorer

    encounter

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (l) (obsolete) * incounter (archaic) * incountre (obsolete)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To meet (someone) or find (something) unexpectedly.
  • To confront (someone or something) face to face.
  • (ambitransitive) To engage in conflict, as with an enemy.
  • Three armies encountered at Waterloo.
  • * Shakespeare
  • I will encounter with Andronicus.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An unplanned or unexpected meeting.
  • :
  • *
  • *:That was Selwyn's first encounter with the Ruthvens. A short time afterward at the opera Gerald dragged him into a parterre to say something amiable to one of the amiable débutante Craig girls—and Selwyn found himself again facing Alixe.
  • A hostile meeting; a confrontation or skirmish.
  • A sudden, often violent clash, as between combatants.
  • (label) A match between two opposing sides.
  • *{{quote-news, year=2011, date=October 29, author=Phil McNulty, work=BBC Sport
  • , title= Chelsea 3-5 Arsenal , passage=Andre Santos equalised and the outstanding Theo Walcott put Arsenal ahead for the first time before Juan Mata's spectacular strike set up the finale for an enthralling encounter .}}

    Synonyms

    * (unplanned meeting ): * (hostile meeting ): clash, confrontation, brush, skirmish

    Derived terms

    * close encounter * encounter group