explore vs prospect

explore is not a noun while prospect is a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
explore	No	No	Yes	No
prospect	Yes	No	Yes	No

As verbs, prospect is a hyponym of explore; that is, prospect is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than explore:

explore: inquire into
prospect: explore for useful or valuable things or substances, such as minerals

Other hyponyms of explore include google, mapquest, re-explore, beat about, cast about, cast around.

explore (noun)	prospect (noun)
	a prediction of the course of a disease
	the visual percept of a region
	belief about (or mental picture of) the future
	someone who is considered for something (for an office or prize or honor etc.)
	the possibility of future success

explore (verb)	prospect (verb)
inquire into	explore for useful or valuable things or substances, such as minerals
travel to or penetrate into	search for something desirable
inquire into a subject in detail
examine (organs) for diagnostic purposes