probe

[ prohb ]

/ proʊb /

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See synonyms for: probe / probing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), probed, prob·ing.

to search into or examine thoroughly; question closely: to probe one's conscience.

to examine or explore with a probe.

verb (used without object), probed, prob·ing.

to examine or explore with or as if with a probe.

noun

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR probe

1 investigate, scrutinize.

See synonyms for probe on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of probe

1555–65; (noun) <Medieval Latin proba examination, Late Latin: test, derivative of probāre (see prove); (v.) partly derivative of the noun, partly <Latin probāre.See proof

OTHER WORDS FROM probe

probe·a·ble, adjectiveprober, nounre·probe, verb, re·probed, re·prob·ing.un·probed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use probe in a sentence

His own employer, Laborers Local Union 89, pulled support in the face of reports about a criminal probe and potential ethics violations.
Morning Report: City Continues to Grapple With COVID Exposure|Voice of San Diego|October 2, 2020|Voice of San Diego
This heat shield, however, will protect the spacecraft only when it is pointed directly at the Sun—there is no sufficient protection on the sides or in the back of the probe.
Definitely not Windows 95: What operating systems keep things running in space?|Ars Staff|October 2, 2020|Ars Technica
The group designed the probes using off-the-shelf technology that’s ready today.
Three ways scientists could search for life on Venus|Charlie Wood|October 1, 2020|Popular-Science
Since the initial licensing announcement in June — coined a PR move at the time — publishers, analysts and trade bodies have grown more skeptical as the details shake out, due to the companies’ motivations while regulatory probes are ongoing.
‘Quite cynical’: Publishers leery about Google’s $1 billion news licensing pot|Lucinda Southern|October 1, 2020|Digiday

In Southern California, investigators are looking at a power line owned by Edison International’s Southern California Edison as part of their probe into a fire that’s burning in the mountains near Los Angeles.
Wildfire ripping through California wine country expands as thousands flee|Rachel King|September 29, 2020|Fortune
Violet Strange was a very charming young woman, as well as a keen prober of odd mysteries.
Masterpieces of Mystery In Four Volumes|Various
"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 Planet|Donald Allen Wollheim
We must not seek in Goldoni a prober of the human heart, not even a fearless satirist of social conditions.
Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern, Vol. 16|Various
But Mary-in-the-glass, that sentimental young woman, was no prober of emotions.
Once Aboard The Lugger|Arthur Stuart-Menteth Hutchinson
That in fact was what I wanted to pour into the ear of the ecclesiastical prober.
The Glory of The Coming|Irvin S. Cobb

British Dictionary definitions for probe

probe

/ (prəʊb) /

verb

(tr) to search into or question closely

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

noun

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

Derived forms of probe

probeable, adjectiveprober, noun

Word Origin for probe

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for probe

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.

probe

OTHER WORDS FOR probe

Origin of probe

OTHER WORDS FROM probe

Words related to probe

How to use probe in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for probe

Derived forms of probe

Word Origin for probe

Medical definitions for probe