probe

[ prohb ]

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 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, prob·ing.

to examine or explore a matter thoroughly (sometimes followed by into): 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.
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

an act or instance of probing.
an investigation, especially by a legislative committee, of suspected illegal activity.

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.
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

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

Other words for probe

1	investigate, scrutinize

See synonyms for probe on Thesaurus.com

Other words from probe

probe·a·ble, adjective
prob·er, noun
re·probe, verb, re·probed, re·prob·ing.
un·probed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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

Origin of probe

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

Derived forms of probe

probeable, adjective
prober, noun

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

Browse