Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense probes, present participle probing, past tense, past participle probed
1. verb
If you probeinto something, you ask questions or try to discover facts about it.
The more they probed into his background, the more inflamed their suspicions wouldbecome. [VERB + into]
For three years, I have probed for understanding. [VERB + for]
The Office of Fair Trading has been probing banking practices. [VERB noun]
The form asks probing questions. [VERB-ing]
Synonyms: examine, research, go into, investigate More Synonyms of probe
Probe is also a noun.
...a federal grand-jury probe into corruption within the FDA.
probingWord forms: plural probingscountable noun
If he remains here, he'll be away from the press and their probings.
2. verb
If a doctor or dentist probes, he or she uses a long instrument to examine part of a patient's body.
The surgeon would pick up his instruments, probe, repair and stitch up again. [VERB]
Dr Amid probed around the sensitive area. [VERB preposition/adverb]
A doctor probed deep in his shoulder wound for shrapnel. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: explore, examine, poke, prod More Synonyms of probe
3. countable noun
A probe is a long thin instrument that doctors and dentists use to examine parts of the body.
...a fibre-optic probe.
4. verb
If you probe a place, you search it in order to find someone or something that you are looking for.
A flashlight beam probed the underbrush only yards away from their hiding place. [VERB noun]
I probed around for some time in the bushes. [VERB adverb/preposition]
5. verb
In a conflict such as a war, if one side probes another side's defences, they try to find their weaknesses, for example by attacking them in specific areas using a small number of troops.
[journalism]
He probes the enemy's weak positions, ignoring his strongholds. [VERB noun]
Squads of prison officers have been probing the rioters' defences. [VERB noun]
Probe is also a noun.
Small probes would give the allied armies some combat experience.
6. countable noun [usually noun NOUN]
A space probe is a spacecraft which travels into space with no people in it, usually in order to study the planets and send information about them back to earth.
Its rings were discovered by telescope from Earth, but space probes later found thatspectacular rings surround some other planets.
The Pioneer probes have on board ultra-violet instruments which are measuring lightthat we can't measure on the earth.
More Synonyms of probe
probe in British English
(prəʊb)
verb
1. (transitive)
to search into or question closely
2.
to examine (something) with or as if with a probe
noun
3.
something that probes, examines, or tests
4. surgery
a slender and usually flexible instrument for exploring a wound, sinus, etc
5.
a thorough inquiry, such as one by a newspaper into corrupt practices
6. electronics
a lead connecting to or containing a measuring or monitoring circuit used for testing
7. electronics
a conductor inserted into a waveguide or cavity resonator to provide coupling to an external circuit
8.
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
9. space probe
Derived forms
probeable (ˈprobeable)
adjective
prober (ˈprober)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Medieval Latin proba investigation, from Latin probāre to test
probe in American English
(proʊb)
noun
1.
a slender, blunt surgical instrument for exploring a wound or the like
2.
the act of probing
3.
a searching examination
; specif.,
a. US
an investigation, as by a legislative committee, into corruption, etc.
b.
an exploratory advance or patrol
4. US
an instrumented spacecraft for exploring the upper atmosphere, space, or a celestial body in order to get information about the environment, physical properties, etc.
5.
any of various devices, as a Pitot tube or electrode, inserted into an environment for measuring, testing, etc.
verb transitiveWord forms: probed or ˈprobing
6.
to explore (a wound, etc.) with a probe
7.
to investigate or examine with great thoroughness
verb intransitive
8.
to search; investigate
Derived forms
prober (ˈprober)
noun
Word origin
LL proba, proof (in ML, examination) < L probare, to test, prove < probus, good, proper < IE *probhwos (> Sans prabhúḥ, outstanding) < base *pro, forward + *bhū, to grow > be
Examples of 'probe' in a sentence
probe
They have been probing the links between symmetry and fitness for two decades.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Southern launched a probe after we tipped them off.
The Sun (2017)
Police have launched a probe into their deaths.
The Sun (2017)
Police are now probing whether the chase was more than a random attempted robbery as was first thought.
The Sun (2016)
Eight agents are also being probed.
The Sun (2016)
The Championship side said their season tickets were suspended while a probe is launched.
The Sun (2016)
The firm's lawyers have also launched a probe in practices and will publish their findings next week.
The Sun (2016)
Police are probing the tragedy.
The Sun (2016)
Police were probing the death but confirmed they had made no arrests.
The Sun (2015)
He probes their faces for telltale clues.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The probes also picked up conversations peppered with vile viewpoints.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Top brass were tipped off and launched an internal probe.
The Sun (2009)
Police were last night probing possible links between the shootings.
The Sun (2011)
We suggest that they should ask some probing questions about the possible sources of economic gain.
Charles A. D'Ambrosio & Stewart D. Hodges & Richard Brealey & Stewart Myers Principles of Corporate Finance (1991)
The little maestro kept probing but could find no gaps.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He wants to give space probes the same access to the internet as the sensors in his wine cellar.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The hotel faces a police probe.
The Sun (2013)
His probing questions will lead all but the most hardened listeners to self-examination.
Christianity Today (2000)
Plainly rusty the day before, he now hit more probing areas.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Your job is to probe him, yet he loves to probe back.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The death is being probed by Spanish cops.
The Sun (2011)
It comes after a booster meant to blast the 100million probe into deep space failed.
The Sun (2011)
How amazing is it to send a probe five billion miles to take pictures of a tiny, icy world?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The pieces of myself probe for information on where, and how, to rejoin.
He added there was an'urgent need' to get the probe back on track.
The Sun (2014)
INDIA sends a probe to Mars.
The Sun (2013)
Word lists with
probe
Medical and surgical instruments and equipment
In other languages
probe
British English: probe VERB
If you probe into something, you ask questions or try to discover facts about it.
The more they probed into his background, the more inflamed their suspicions would become.
American English: probe
Brazilian Portuguese: inquirir
Chinese: 调查
European Spanish: indagar
French: enquêter
German: untersuchen
Italian: indagare
Japanese: 探りを入れる
Korean: 조사하다
European Portuguese: inquirir
Latin American Spanish: indagar
All related terms of 'probe'
space probe
A space probe is a spacecraft with no people in it which is sent into space in order to study the planets and send information about them back to earth.
proximity probe
A proximity probe is an instrument for measuring how far the surface of a component is away from the end of the probe.
probe allegations
An allegation is a statement saying that someone has done something wrong .
probe an incident
An incident is something that happens , often something that is unpleasant.
probe the death of
Death is the permanent end of the life of a person or animal.
electron probe microanalysis
a technique for the analysis of a very small amount of material by bombarding it with a narrow beam of electrons and examining the resulting X-ray emission spectrum