reconnoitre

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

reconnoitre
    v 1: explore, often with the goal of finding something or
         somebody [syn: {scout}, {reconnoiter}, {reconnoitre}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Reconnoiter \Rec`on*noi"ter\, Reconnoitre \Rec`on*noi"tre\
   (r?k`?n*noi"t?r), v. t. [F. reconnoitre, a former spelling of
   reconna[^i]tre. See {Recognize}.]
   1. To examine with the eye to make a preliminary examination
      or survey of; esp., to survey with a view to military or
      engineering operations.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To recognize. [Obs.] --Sir H. Walpole.
      [1913 Webster]