probe

[ prohb ]

/ proʊb /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR probe 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.

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

SYNONYMS 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

Words nearby probe

probation, probation officer, probationary assistant, probationer, probative, probe, probe syringe, probenecid, probie, probiosis, probiotic

Example sentences from the Web for probing

“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

I hope against hope for some probing questions from Schieffer, too.

One Thing About the Debate I Forgot in that Previous Piece |Michael Tomasky |October 22, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
Sothern's eyes, as keen as knife blades, studied the dark face, probing deep for a knowledge of the man himself.

Wolf Breed |Jackson Gregory
For three weeks repeated attempts were made to find the ball by probing, but without success.

Civil War Experiences |Henry Coddington Meyer
The neighbors would have spoken to her about it, but she shrunk from the subject as if they were probing a wound.

Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. 2, No. 8, January, 1851 |Various
Henrietta, watching him, guessed that he was probing for some sign of mental aberration.

The Fate of Felix Brand |Florence Finch Kelly
And suddenly, the jagged moonscape below erupted—belching streaks of fire that sought us like probing fingers.

The Peacemaker |Alfred Coppel

British Dictionary definitions for probing

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, adjective prober, noun

Word Origin for probe

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

Medical definitions for probing

probe

[ prōb ]

n.

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.

v.

To explore a wound or body cavity with a probe.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

probe

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

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

noun

Origin of probe

SYNONYMS FOR probe

OTHER WORDS FROM probe

Words nearby probe

Example sentences from the Web for probing

British Dictionary definitions for probing

verb

noun

Derived forms of probe

Word Origin for probe

Medical definitions for probing

n.

v.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

probe

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

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

noun

Origin of probe

SYNONYMS FOR probe

OTHER WORDS FROM probe

Words nearby probe

Words related to probing

Example sentences from the Web for probing

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for probing

verb

noun

Derived forms of probe

Word Origin for probe

Medical definitions for probing

n.

v.

British Dictionary definitions for probing