probe

Use probe in a sentence

A person putting a probe thermometer into a turkey to check the temperature for doneness.

noun

The definition of a probe is an investigation into something or a blunt surgical tool used for exploratory medical testing.
1. An example of a probe is an investigation into who stole money from the petty cash jar.
2. An example of a probe is a probe used to perform a colonoscopy.

verb

To probe is to explore or investigate something.
1. An example of probe is when a scientists studies the origin of DNA.
2. An example of probe is when the police investigate a case to learn the identity of the criminal.

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"probe." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 20 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/probe>.

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probe. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/probe

probe

a slender, blunt surgical instrument for exploring a wound or the like
the act of probing
a searching examination; specif.,
1. an investigation, as by a legislative committee, into corruption, etc.
2. an exploratory advance or patrol
an instrumented spacecraft for exploring the upper atmosphere, space, or a celestial body in order to get information about the environment, physical properties, etc.
any of various devices, as a Pitot tube or electrode, inserted into an environment for measuring, testing, etc.

Origin of probe

Late Latin proba, proof (in ML, examination) from Classical Latin probare, to test, prove from probus, good, proper from Indo-European an unverified form probhwos (from source Sanskrit prabhú?, outstanding) from base an unverified form pro, forward + an unverified form bh?, to grow from source be

transitive verb

probed, prob′ing

to explore (a wound, etc.) with a probe
to investigate or examine with great thoroughness

to search; investigate

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MLA Style

"probe." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 20 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/probe>.

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probe. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/probe

probe

noun

a. A slender, flexible surgical instrument used to explore a wound or body cavity.
b. An electrode or other device that can be placed inside something to take and convey measurements.
c. A substance, such as DNA, that is radioactively labeled or otherwise marked and used to detect or identify another substance in a sample.
d. A space probe.
a. An exploratory action or expedition, especially one designed to investigate and obtain information on a remote or unknown region: the scouts' probe of enemy territory.
b. The act of exploring or searching with a device or instrument: the surgeon's probe of the clogged artery.
c. An investigation into unfamiliar matters or questionable activities; a penetrating inquiry: a congressional probe into price fixing; a reporter's probe into a public figure's past. See Synonyms at inquiry.

verb

probed, prob·ing, probes

verb

transitive

a. To penetrate or explore physically, especially with a probe, in order to find or discover something: “Chimpanzees use a variety of tools to probe termite mounds” ( Virginia Morell )
b. To investigate by means of a chemical probe.
a. To make an inquiry about (something); investigate or examine: probed the impact of technology on social behavior.
b. To subject (a person) to questioning; interrogate.

verb

intransitive

To make a physical search, especially by penetrating with a probe: birds probing in the sand for clams.
To pose questions or conduct an investigation: The police are probing into what really happened.

Origin of probe

Middle English examination from Medieval Latin proba from Late Latin proof from Latin probāre to test from probus good ; see per¹ in Indo-European roots.

Related Forms:

prob′er
noun

prob′ing·ly
adverb

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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MLA Style

"probe." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 20 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/probe>.

APA Style

probe. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/probe

Noun

(plural probes)

(surgery) Any of various medical instruments used to explore wounds, organs, etc. [from 15th c.]
(figuratively) Something which penetrates something else, as though to explore; something which obtains information. [from 17th c.]
An act of probing; a prod, a poke. [from 19th c.]
(figuratively) An investigation or inquiry. [from 20th c.]
They launched a probe into the cause of the accident.
(aeronautics) A tube attached to an aircraft which can be fitted into the drogue from a tanker aircraft to allow for aerial refuelling. [from 20th c.]
(sciences) A small device, especially an electrode, used to explore, investigate or measure something by penetrating or being placed in it. [from 20th c.]
Insert the probe into the soil and read the temperature.
(astronautics) A small, usually unmanned, spacecraft used to acquire information or measurements about its surroundings. [from 20th c.]
(game of Go) a move with multiple answers seeking to make the opponent choose and commit to a strategy

Verb

(third-person singular simple present probes, present participle probing, simple past and past participle probed)

(intransitive) To explore, investigate, or question
If you probe further, you may discover different reasons.
To insert a probe into.

Origin

For verb: Latin probare (“to test, examine, prove"), from probus (“good").

For noun: Late Latin proba (“a proof"), from probare (“to test, examine, prove"); see proof. Compare Spanish tienta (“a surgeon's probe"), from tentar (“try, test"); see tempt.

Proper noun

a model of Ford automobile

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.

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MLA Style

"probe." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 20 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/probe>.

APA Style

probe. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/probe

probe - Computer Definition

Any online effort, such as a request, program, or transaction, intended to get data about a computer’s or a network’s state. For example, a person can conduct a probe of the network by sending an “empty” message to determine whether a destination really exists.

probe - Medical Definition

n.

A slender flexible surgical instrument with a blunt bulbous tip, used to explore a wound or body cavity.
The act of exploring or searching with a device or instrument.
A substance, such as DNA, that is radioactively labeled or otherwise marked and used to detect or identify another substance in a sample.