probe
- to search into or examine thoroughly; question closely: to probe one's conscience.
- to examine or explore with a probe.
- to examine or explore with or as if with a probe.
- the act of probing.
- a slender surgical instrument for exploring the depth or direction of a wound, sinus, or the like.
- an investigation, especially by a legislative committee, of suspected illegal activity.
- Aerospace. space probe.
- a projecting, pipelike device on a receiving aircraft used to make connection with and receive fuel from a tanker aircraft during refueling in flight.
- 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.
- 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.
Origin of probe
Synonyms for probe
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comRelated Words for prober
analyst, auditor, examiner, inquisitor, investigator, quester, questioner, researcher, checker, scrutinizerExamples from the Web for prober
Historical Examples of prober
It was a painful business, but nothing to be compared to the pain produced by the "prober."
"Contemptible""Casualty"
Tom contacted the government craft and learned that as yet no sign of the lost Jupiter prober had been detected.
Tom Swift and the Electronic HydrolungVictor Appleton
"We've had a couple of prober rockets shot into its surface," said Russ, as they watched the oncoming planet.
The Secret of the Ninth PlanetDonald Allen Wollheim
We must not seek in Goldoni a prober of the human heart, not even a fearless satirist of social conditions.
But Mary-in-the-glass, that sentimental young woman, was no prober of emotions.
Once Aboard The LuggerArthur Stuart-Menteth Hutchinson
probe
- (tr) to search into or question closely
- to examine (something) with or as if with a probe
- something that probes, examines, or tests
- surgery a slender and usually flexible instrument for exploring a wound, sinus, etc
- a thorough inquiry, such as one by a newspaper into corrupt practices
- electronics a lead connecting to or containing a measuring or monitoring circuit used for testing
- electronics a conductor inserted into a waveguide or cavity resonator to provide coupling to an external circuit
- 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
- See space probe
Word Origin for probe
Word Origin and History for prober
probe
early 15c., "instrument for exploring wounds, etc.," also "an examination," from Medieval Latin proba "examination," in Late Latin "a test, proof," from Latin probare (see prove). Meaning "act of probing" is 1890, from the verb; figurative sense of "penetrating investigation" is from 1903. Meaning "small, unmanned exploratory craft" is attested from 1953.
probe
1640s, originally figurative; "to search thoroughly, interrogate;" from probe (n.) and partly from Latin probare. Literal sense of "to examine with a probe" is from 1680s. Related: Probed; probing; probingly.
probe
(prōb)- A slender, flexible surgical instrument with a blunt bulbous tip, used to explore a wound or body cavity.
- A substance, such as DNA, that is radioactively labeled or otherwise marked and used to detect or identify another substance in a sample.
- To explore a wound or body cavity with a probe.