probe1 verbprobe2 noun
probeprobe1 /prəʊb $ proʊb/ ●○○ verb [intransitive, transitive] 
Verb TableVERB TABLE
probe
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | probe |
| he, she, it | probes | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | probed |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have probed |
| he, she, it | has probed | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had probed |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will probe |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have probed |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am probing |
| he, she, it | is probing | |
| you, we, they | are probing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was probing |
| you, we, they | were probing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been probing |
| he, she, it | has been probing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been probing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be probing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been probing |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- I'm tired of the doctors poking and probing me with needles and tubes.
- Reporters began probing for more information.
- The press have been criticised for probing too deeply into the actor's private life.
- The Secretary of State is probing claims of election fraud.
- Andrea was too distraught to speak as police probed the tragedy at Gabalfa, Cardiff, yesterday.
- Cars streamed along the Embankment, their headlamps probing the dusk; a barge slapped its way along the shimmering river.
- His eyes swept from side to side, probing the edges of the darkness.
- I have profited from their probing into the functions such stories might serve.
- The expected report from Mission Control had still not arrived; this might be the moment to do a little tactful probing.
- The eyes were intently probing - a remembered deep, dark blue.
- The guarding infantry probed the area but encountered nothing.
THESAURUS► investigate
Collocations to try to find out the truth about something such as a crime, accident, or scientific problem: · Police are investigating an explosion in the city centre.· The aim of the study is to investigate how climate change is affecting animal behaviour.· There were fears he may have drowned in the lake, so divers were sent down to investigate.
► look into something to find out more about a problem, especially after someone has asked you to do this: · The manager promised to look into my complaint.· Please could you look into the matter for me?
► explore to consider or discuss something, in order to help you decide what you should do: · Military leaders are exploring new ways of defending the United States from terrorism.· I’m going to explore the possibility of a part-time job.
► probe [intransitive, transitive] to try to find secret or hidden information, especially by asking questions: · The press began probing into the actor’s private life.· We have been probing the reasons why the government has been so slow to react to the problem of climate change.
► delve [intransitive] to look somewhere in order to try to find more information about something, especially something that is difficult to find out about: · Over the past year Ms Deen has been delving into the national archives, in order to discover information on the early Muslim settlers.· I think we need to delve a little deeper.
► be under investigation if someone or their activities are under investigation, the police are trying to find out if they have done something illegal: · Several public figures are under investigation for corruption.
Longman Language Activatorto try and find out about an accident, crime etc► investigate to try to find out the truth about a crime, an accident, or a problem, especially by using careful and thorough methods: · Police are investigating an explosion at the city store.· We sent our reporter, Michael Gore, to investigate.· The commission will investigate the cause of the accident, focusing especially on safety issues.
► make inquiries/enquiries especially British to ask people questions about a person, crime, accident etc in order to find out information about it: · A reporter who tried to make inquiries was arrested.make inquiries/enquiries into/about: · Police are making inquiries into the theft of a quantity of explosives.· He had made a few inquiries and learnt that she inherited the money from her father.
► go into to try to find out the facts of a situation in order to explain why it happened: · "How did Blake manage to escape?" "That's something that we will have to go into."· The headteacher promised the parents that he would be going into the matter of bullying very thoroughly.
► probe to carefully and thoroughly try to find out all the facts about a situation, especially when someone wants to keep these a secret: · The Secretary of State is probing claims of election fraud.probe for: · Reporters began probing for more information.probe into: · The press have been criticised for probing too deeply into the actor's private life.
► look into if someone in an official position looks into a problem or bad situation, they try to find out more about it so that the situation can be improved: · The manager promised to look into my complaint.· Police are looking into the possibility that the bomb warning was a hoax.· Callahan hired me to look into the accident.
► solve if someone solves a crime or a mystery, they get all the information they need so that they can explain exactly what happened: · Detectives are trying to solve the murder of a young girl.· Officials hope the Navy will solve the mystery of four bombs that are missing from the wreckage of a military jet.
► be under investigation if a person, organization etc is under investigation, the police are trying to find out if they are involved in a crime or illegal activity: · A health club is currently under investigation by Boston detectives.· Several of the company's executives are under investigation.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► a searching/probing question
1to ask questions in order to find things out, especially things that other people do not want you to knowprobe into (=one designed to find things out)· The immigration officer asked me some searching questions.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB► deeper· They had accepted it for what it was, and never bothered to probe deeper, and she had followed suit.· In the current chapter we probe deeper into trade structure in order to achieve two objectives.· He has the world in his hands, women, money, success - but this man probes deeper.· But we must now probe deeper.· Jezrael shied from probing deeper, thinking, Who am I to question orders?· These contradictory effects can be explained by probing deeper into the subject of adenosine receptors.· In fact, if you probe deeper, vitally important functional differences between patients will emerge.· The geophysicist must probe deeper to look at the forces generated below the surface of the earth by the continental plates.
► further· His eyes warned her to shut up, not to probe further.
NOUN► committee· In Committee we shall probe deeply into that issue.· She had been called previously, she said, by investigators for the House and Senate committees probing Democratic fund-raising.
► investigator· As investigators probed the brain further, the riddle of the mind revealed itself to be deeply specific.· The investigator dispatched to probe the incident blamed the Tonghaks for the trouble.
► police· Andrea was too distraught to speak as police probed the tragedy at Gabalfa, Cardiff, yesterday.· Away to the police surgeon to be probed for invisible cells hidden about her person.· The head has been suspended and police are probing the school.
► question· I didn't have to ask Richie any probing questions.· I should have asked more questions, probed to under-stand exactly what it was they were trying to achieve.
I don’t want to probe too deeply into your personal affairs. Police probed claims that he had sold drugs.2to look for something or examine something, using a long thin object: Jules probed the mud gingerly with a stick.probe1 verbprobe2 noun
probeprobe2 noun [countable] Word OriginWORD ORIGINprobe2
ExamplesOrigin:
1500-1600 Medieval Latin proba, from Latin probare ‘to test, prove’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- Ammiano called for a probe into reports of voter fraud.
- He subsequently alleged that the lab had produced sloppy, misleading or fabricated evidence in a number of major probes.
- I could have put my picks and probes to bed in the compartment I thus opened, but I decided not to.
- Karen responded to my gentle probes.
- Lane 1 is the A+G sequence of the hybridization probe.
- The probe was applied from the front in 32 and laterally in 17 cases.
- The current data are insufficient to establish the suitability of the heater probe compared with other types of endoscopic treatment.
- The idea was to manoeuvre the two modules together so that the probe entered the drogue.
- The money went for staffers who were out of work when the probe ended.
THESAURUS► investigation
Collocations a process in which the police or another organization try to find out the truth about a crime or accident: · Following a major police investigation, two men were arrested.· The investigation into the causes of the air crash are continuing.
► inquiry an official process to find out why something happened, which usually takes several months or years: · Local people are calling for an inquiry into the accident.· An independent inquiry found serious shortcomings at the children’s home.
► case a matter that police or officials are trying to find out information about, especially so that it can be dealt with in a court of law: · The case has never been solved.· The police say it is one of the most puzzling cases they have had to deal with.
► probe an investigation in which many questions are asked to find out the truth about something – used especially in journalism: · The TV show featured a probe into charges charged by high street banks.
► inquest a legal investigation to find out why someone died: · The inquest heard that Mr Swan was poisoned.
► survey a process in which people are asked questions in order to find out about their opinions or about their behaviour: · They did a survey to find out the most popular pop star.· Based on a survey of 250 companies, the report says that ‘ over two thirds of companies expect operating costs to increase as a result of addressing environmental issues.
► autopsy British English a medical examination of a dead person’s body, to find out why that person died: · If she died of a drug overdose, it would show up in the autopsy.
WORD SETS► Hospitalaether, nounaftercare, nounambulance, nounamniocentesis, nounampoule, nounamputate, verbanaesthesia, nounanaesthetize, verbanodyne, nounantibiotic, nounantidote, nounantiseptic, nounantiseptic, adjectiveappendectomy, nounartificial respiration, nounastringent, adjectiveastringent, nounbandage, verbbathe, verbbed bath, nounbedpan, nounbiopsy, nounblood bank, nounblood donor, nounblood group, nounbloodletting, nounblood transfusion, nounbrain scan, nounbridge, nouncaesarean, nouncallipers, nouncapsule, nouncardiac, adjectivecast, nouncasualty, nouncatheter, nounCAT scan, nouncauterize, verbcervical smear, nouncesarean, nouncheckup, nounchemotherapy, nounchiropractor, nounclinic, nounclinical, adjectiveclinical thermometer, nouncommit, verbcompress, nounconstruct, verbconsultant, nounconsulting room, nounconvalesce, verbconvalescence, nounconvalescent, nouncosmetic surgery, nouncottage hospital, nouncrown, nouncrown, verbcrutch, nouncurative, adjectivecure, nouncure, verbD and C, nounday room, noundecongestant, noundentistry, noundermatology, noundetox, noundetoxification, noundiagnose, verbdiagnosis, noundiagnostic, adjectivedialysis, noundischarge, verbdischarge, noundispensary, noundoctor, verbdonate, verbdonor, noundress, verbdrug rehabilitation, nounear trumpet, nounECG, nounECT, noun-ectomy, suffixEEG, nounEKG, nounElastoplast, nounelective, adjectiveelectric shock therapy, nounemergency room, nounendoscope, nounenema, nounepidural, nounether, nouneviscerate, verbexam, nounexamination, nounexamine, verbfacelift, nounfilling, nounfirst aid, nounfirst aider, nounfirst aid kit, nounforceps, noungauze, noungeriatrics, noungraft, noungraft, verbgrommet, noungurney, nounhealth care, nounhealth centre, nounhealth service, nounheart-lung machine, nounhospice, nounhospital, nounhypnotherapy, nounhypo, nounhypodermic, nounhypodermic, adjectivehysterectomy, nounice pack, nounimplant, verbimplant, nounincision, nounincubator, nouninduce, verbinfection, nouninfirmary, nouninject, verbinjection, nouninlay, nouninoculate, verbinpatient, nouninseminate, verbinstitutionalize, verbintensive care, nouninternal medicine, nounintravenous, adjectiveinvasive, adjectivein vitro fertilization, nounirrigate, verbisolation, nounisometrics, nounIV, nounIVF, nounkeyhole surgery, nounlamp, nounlaudanum, nounlaughing gas, nounlaxative, nounlife support system, nounlinctus, nounliniment, nounlint, nounlobotomy, nounlumpectomy, nounmammography, nounmanipulate, verbmanipulative, adjectivemassage, nounmassage, verbmastectomy, nounmedical, adjectivemedical, nounmedicine, nounmental hospital, nounmonitor, nounmouth-to-mouth resuscitation, nounMRI, nounNational Health Service, the, negative, adjectivenose job, nounnursing home, nounob/gyn, nounobstetrics, nounoccupational therapy, nounold folks' home, nounold people's home, nounop, nounopen-heart surgery, nounoperable, adjectiveoperate, verboperating room, nounoperating table, nounoperating theatre, nounoperation, nounoperative, adjectiveorthodontics, nounorthopedic, adjectiveorthopedics, nounosteopathy, nounoutpatient, nounoxygen mask, nounoxygen tent, nounpacemaker, nounpack, nounpadded cell, nounpaediatrics, nounpalliative, nounpalpate, verbPap smear, nounpetroleum jelly, nounphial, nounphysiotherapy, nounpill, nounplaster, nounplaster cast, nounplastic surgery, nounpost-mortem, nounpoultice, nounprep, verbprescription, nounpreventive medicine, nounprimary health care, nounprivate medicine, nounprivate patient, nounprobe, nounprophylactic, adjectiveprosthesis, nounquarantine, nounquarantine, verbradiographer, nounradiography, nounradiologist, nounradiology, nounradiotherapy, nounreceive, verbrecovery room, nounrehabilitate, verbreject, verbreset, verbresidential care, nounresidential treatment facility, nounrest home, nounresuscitate, verbrhinoplasty, nounRx, saline, nounsanatorium, nounscalpel, nounscan, nounscreen, verbscreening, nounsection, nounsection, verbsedate, verbset, verbshock treatment, nounsickbay, nounsickroom, nounsilicone implant, nounskin graft, nounsmear, nounsmear test, nounsmelling salts, nounsocialized medicine, nounspatula, nounspecimen, nounsperm bank, nounsplint, nounstaunch, verbstethoscope, nounstitch, nounstomach pump, nounstretcher, nounsurgery, nounsurgical, adjectivesuture, nounswab, nounswab, verbsyringe, nounsyringe, verbtablet, nountape, verbteaching hospital, nountermination, nountheatre, nountherapy, nounthermometer, nountongue depressor, nountourniquet, nountracheotomy, nountranquillize, verbtransfusion, nountransplant, verbtransplant, nountreatment, nountruss, nountuck, nounultrasound, nounvaccinate, verbvasectomy, nounventilator, nounveterinary, adjectivevisiting hours, nounward, nounwell-woman, adjectivewetting solution, nounwheelchair, nounX-ray, nounX-ray, verb
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► a searching/probing question
1a long thin metal instrument that doctors and scientists use to examine parts of the body2a space probe3an investigation in which many questions are asked to discover the truth about something: (=one designed to find things out)· The immigration officer asked me some searching questions.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN► space· Atlantis was to carry the Galileo space probe on the first leg of a six-year voyage to Jupiter this afternoon.· Despite serious technical obstacles, space agency officials are considering whether to launch a Jupiter space probe powered entirely by sunlight.· Artificial satellites and space probes have contributed much new knowledge.
VERB► conduct· Auditor general Sir John Bourn will personally conduct the probe.· Officers on the current investigation have been helped by cops who conducted the initial probe.
► launch· Despite serious technical obstacles, space agency officials are considering whether to launch a Jupiter space probe powered entirely by sunlight.
► order· We describe in the next section methods for building contigs which rely on ordering the probes rather than the clones.· The analysis software described in this paper does not order multiple-copy probes.· Education officials have ordered a formal probe into allegations the pupil was struck at Darlington's Hummersknot School.
a police corruption probe