probe

[prohb]

verb (used with object)

probed, probing 

1. to search into or examine thoroughly; question closely.

   to probe one's conscience.

   Synonyms: scrutinize, investigate

2. to examine or explore with or as if with an instrument.

   The dentist probed the offending tooth.

   She keeps probing her ear with a cotton swab.

verb (used without object)

probed, probing 

1. to examine or explore a matter thoroughly (sometimes followed byinto ).

   The checklist consists of a series of questions carefully designed to probe into all aspects of your business.

   The cross-examiner probed a little more before dismissing the witness.

2. to explore or search with or as if with an instrument.

   You may have to probe with the rod until you find the mouth of the pipe.

noun

1. an act or instance of probing.

2. an investigation, especially by a legislative committee, of suspected illegal activity.

3. a tool or instrument designed for examining something, especially a slender surgical instrument for exploring the depth or direction of a wound, sinus, or the like.

4. Aerospace.,  space probe.

5. a projecting, pipelike device on a receiving aircraft used to make connection with and receive fuel from a tanker aircraft during refueling in flight.

6. a device, attached by cord to an oven, that can be inserted into roasts or other food so that the oven shuts off when the desired internal temperature of the food is reached.

7. Biology.,  any identifiable substance that is used to detect, isolate, or identify another substance, as a labeled strand of DNA that hybridizes with its complementary RNA or a monoclonal antibody that combines with a specific protein.

probe

/ prəʊb /

verb

1. (tr) to search into or question closely

2. to examine (something) with or as if with a probe

noun

1. something that probes, examines, or tests

2. surgery a slender and usually flexible instrument for exploring a wound, sinus, etc

3. a thorough inquiry, such as one by a newspaper into corrupt practices

4. electronics a lead connecting to or containing a measuring or monitoring circuit used for testing

5. electronics a conductor inserted into a waveguide or cavity resonator to provide coupling to an external circuit

6. any of various devices that provide a coupling link, esp a flexible tube extended from an aircraft to link it with another so that it can refuel

7. See space probe

Other Word Forms

• probeable adjective
• prober noun
• reprobe verb
• unprobed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of probe¹

First recorded in 1555–65; (noun) from Medieval Latin proba “examination,” Late Latin: “test,” derivative of probāre “to try, test, prove” ( proof ( def. ), prove ( def. ) ); (verb) partly derivative of the noun, partly from Latin probāre

Word History and Origins

Origin of probe¹

C16: from Medieval Latin proba investigation, from Latin probāre to test

Example Sentences

Another probed whether she abandoned her post when she failed to appoint a caretaker president during an absence for nose surgery.

Read more on BBC

Trade-claims financier Raistone said in court papers filed Wednesday that an independent examiner is needed to probe the company’s factoring agreements.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Part of the probe will assess whether drivers had warnings and enough time to respond to the vehicle’s unexpected actions, the agency said.

Read more on MarketWatch

When the pharmaceutical tariff probe was announced in April, the Federal Register notice specified that the investigation would target “both finished generic and non-generic drug products,” as well as drug ingredients.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Using personalized “Explorer Key” cards, visitors can activate digital paleontological tools to probe the morphology and physiology of dinosaurs and other creatures.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• check out 
• delve into www.thesaurus.com
• dig 
• examine 
• inquire 
• interrogate 
• penetrate 
• poke 
• scrutinize 
• sift 
• verify