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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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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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. 2023

How to use probe in a sentence

Elora Mukherjee, a Columbia Law School professor, said that certification for such a visa is the “basic minimum protection” that federal investigators can grant to the detainees who are willing to cooperate with their probe.
Congressional Dems say women in ICE custody who blew whistle on gynecologist should be able to apply for special visas|Teo Armus|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
Asked about the probe, James, the attorney general of New York, said she could not comment on the probe because it is ongoing.
State, federal antitrust lawsuits likely to challenge Facebook for buying rivals and weaponizing data|Tony Romm|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
Police errors were rampant from the start, despite promises of a thorough probe, with the crime scene left initially unsecured and key figures not questioned for weeks.
The Death of a Journalist — and a Free Press — in Mozambique|Eromo Egbejule|November 12, 2020|Ozy
Hopkins was escorted out of his workplace on Monday afternoon and told not to return until the investigation was completed, according to one of the officials familiar with the probe.
Postal worker recanted allegations of ballot tampering, officials say|Shawn Boburg, Jacob Bogage|November 11, 2020|Washington Post

Baca is now in federal prison after a jury found he oversaw a plan to interfere with the federal probe into inmate abuses in the county jail system and later lied to prosecutors about his role.
New County Board and Sheriff Could Be Headed for a Standoff|Maya Srikrishnan|November 11, 2020|Voice of San Diego
“This is an era of probing to keep us off balance,” Comley said.
Russia Preps Its North Pole Invasion|Dave Majumdar|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Everyone has a preference,” the man says, probing Oberyn about whether he prefers the company of a man or a woman.
Meet the Red Viper: Pedro Pascal on Game of Thrones’ Kinky, Bisexual Hellraiser|Marlow Stern|March 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But Dave and his crew kept living the nightmare and probing the depths of depravity through their absurdist, folk-art horror-show.
My Friend Oderus Urungus: GWAR’s Dave Brockie Was a High School Punk Legend|Andy Hinds|March 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He spent hundreds of hours talking with the Nazis in their cells, probing their past, motivations, and psyches.
Hermann Göring’s Shrink and the Perils of the Nazi Mind|Jack El-Hai|October 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Indeed, through all of this personal probing, Christie comes across as strikingly likable, charming, sympathetic even.
Give Chris Christie a Break on His Weight|Michelle Cottle|February 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
"You will have to get over that feeling," observed Mr. Carr, disregarding the hint, and taking out his probing-knife.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
The wound after probing looked sufficiently like an ordinary incision to deceive any one.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
One at a time they put us on the rack—probing each man's story down to the smallest detail.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
No sooner had the caravan reached us than our attention was drawn to the faces of the camels probing the distance.
Kari the Elephant|Dhan Gopal Mukerji
This additional probing caused her pain but she showed no signs not even by flinching.
A Virginia Scout|Hugh Pendexter

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

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