▪ I. plore, n.
(plɔː(r))
[Irreg. f. explore v.]
Professor R. Gregory's term for an exhibit in a science museum which the visitor is encouraged to handle or otherwise explore; a hands-on exhibit. Cf. *exploratory n. 2.
| 1986 R. Gregory Hands-On Sci. i. 11 As the usual museum terms..are too passive..we have coined the word ‘plore’, meaning a model, an experiment, or a problem to explore. 1986 Daily Tel. 17 Nov. 12/4 His [sc. Professor Gregory's] ‘plores’..are experiments through which visitors ‘discover’ phenomena themselves. 1987 Nature 16 July 213/1 The talk is of ‘plores’, ‘experiments’ and ‘games’, as brigades of enthusiasts pull levers, press buttons, prod and bully exhibits into life. 1989 New Scientist 23–30 Dec. 79/2 The slogan ‘Science you can handle’ says it all. The ‘plores’, as the experiments are called, spread over two floors. |
▪ II. † plore, v. Obs. rare—0.
In 5 plowre.
[ad. L. plōrāre, F. pleurer.]
intr. To weep, wail.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 405/2 Plowryn, or wepyn, ploro, fleo. Ibid., Plowrynge, or wepynge, ploratus. |