proof
1 Americannoun
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evidence sufficient to establish a thing as true, or to produce belief in its truth.
- Synonyms:
- support , corroboration , demonstration , confirmation
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anything serving as such evidence.
What proof do you have?
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the act of testing or making trial of anything; test; trial.
to put a thing to the proof.
- Synonyms:
- assay , examination
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the establishment of the truth of anything; demonstration.
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Law. (in judicial proceedings) evidence having probative weight.
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the effect of evidence in convincing the mind.
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an arithmetical operation serving to check the correctness of a calculation.
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Mathematics, Logic. a sequence of steps, statements, or demonstrations that leads to a valid conclusion.
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a test to determine the quality, durability, etc., of materials used in manufacture.
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Distilling.
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the arbitrary standard strength, as of an alcoholic liquor.
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strength with reference to this standard: “100 proof ” signifies a proof spirit, usually 50% alcohol.
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Photography. a trial print from a negative.
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Printing.
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a trial impression, as of composed type, taken to correct errors and make alterations.
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one of a number of early and superior impressions taken before the printing of the ordinary issue.
to pull a proof.
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(in printmaking) an impression taken from a plate or the like to show the quality or condition of work during the process of execution; a print pulled for examination while working on a plate, block, stone, etc.
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Numismatics. one of a limited number of coins of a new issue struck from polished dies on a blank having a polished or matte surface.
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the state of having been tested and approved.
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proved strength, as of armor.
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Scots Law. the trial of a case by a judge alone, without a jury.
adjective
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able to withstand; successful in not being overcome.
proof against temptation.
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impenetrable, impervious, or invulnerable.
proof against outside temperature changes.
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used for testing or proving; serving as proof.
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of standard strength, as an alcoholic liquor.
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of tested or proven strength or quality.
proof armor.
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noting pieces of pure gold and silver that the U.S. assay and mint offices use as standards.
verb (used with object)
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to test; examine for flaws, errors, etc.; check against a standard or standards.
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Printing. prove.
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to proofread.
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to treat or coat for the purpose of rendering resistant to deterioration, damage, etc. (often used in combination).
to proof a house against termites; to shrink-proof a shirt.
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Cooking.
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to test the effectiveness of (yeast), as by combining with warm water so that a bubbling action occurs.
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to cause (especially bread dough) to rise due to the addition of baker's yeast or other leavening.
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adjective
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012noun
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any evidence that establishes or helps to establish the truth, validity, quality, etc, of something
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law the whole body of evidence upon which the verdict of a court is based
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maths logic a sequence of steps or statements that establishes the truth of a proposition See also direct induction induction
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the act of testing the truth of something (esp in the phrase put to the proof )
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Scots law trial before a judge without a jury
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printing a trial impression made from composed type, or a print-out (from a laser printer, etc) for the correction of errors
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(in engraving, etc) a print made by an artist or under his supervision for his own satisfaction before he hands the plate over to a professional printer
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photog a trial print from a negative
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the alcoholic strength of proof spirit
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the strength of a beverage or other alcoholic liquor as measured on a scale in which the strength of proof spirit is 100 degrees
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adjective
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able to resist; impervious (to)
the roof is proof against rain
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having the alcoholic strength of proof spirit
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of proved strength or impenetrability
proof armour
verb
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(tr) to take a proof from (type matter, a plate, etc)
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to proofread (text) or inspect (a print, etc), as for approval
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to render (something) proof, esp to waterproof
Usage
What does -proof mean? The combining form -proof is used like a suffix meaning “resistant, impervious to.” Impervious means "impenetrable." It is occasionally used in a variety of everyday and technical terms.The form -proof ultimately comes from Latin proba, meaning “test.”
Related Words
See evidence.
Other Word Forms
- re-proof verb (used with object)
- unproofed adjective
Etymology
Origin of proof
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English prove, prooff, prof, proufe, alteration (by association with the vowel of prove ) of preove, proeve, prieve, pref, from Middle French preve, proeve, prueve, from Late Latin proba “a test,” akin to Latin probāre “to test and find good”; pree
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“You’re a failure. You never had any talent in the first place. You didn’t deserve it. This is proof.”
From Salon
But when he returned, it was with us, the family he made, the proof that while he was gone, he didn’t just survive, but lived.
From Salon
You can’t really lie about your age, because you have to show proof of identification.
O’Connell, a former NFL quarterback, has earned a reputation for getting the most out of his quarterbacks—and Darnold, a former New York Jets draftee bust, was proof.
Both have higher burdens of proof than asylum but don’t provide a pathway to citizenship.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
