Such explorers go to the ends of the earth (5)
I believe the answer is:
polar
'such explorers go' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'to the ends of the earth' is the wordplay.
'to the' becomes 'pol' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'ends of' suggests removing the centre.
'the earth' becomes 'Asia Minor' (Asia Minor is an example).
'asiaminor' with its middle removed is 'ar'.
'pol'+'ar'='POLAR'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for polar that I've seen before include "Regions at the top and bottom of the world" , "Directly opposed" , "Type of bear" , "Directly opposite" , "Arctic and Antarctic regions, for example" .)