probe

Etymology

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.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /pɹəʊb/
• (US) IPA^(key): /pɹoʊb/
• Rhymes: -əʊb

Noun

probe (plural probes)

1. (surgery) Any of various medical instruments used to explore wounds, organs, etc. [from 15th c.]
2. (figuratively) Something which penetrates something else, as though to explore; something which obtains information. [from 17th c.]
3. An act of probing; a prod, a poke. [from 19th c.]
4. (figuratively) An investigation or inquiry. [from 20th c.]

   They launched a probe into the cause of the accident.

5. (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.]
6. (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.

7. (astronautics) A small, usually unmanned, spacecraft used to acquire information or measurements about its surroundings. [from 20th c.]
8. (game of Go) a move with multiple answers seeking to make the opponent choose and commit to a strategy
9. (biochemistry) Any group of atoms or molecules radioactively labeled in order to study a given molecule or other structure

Verb

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

1. (transitive, intransitive) To explore, investigate, or question

   If you probe further, you may discover different reasons.

   • Hallam

     the growing disposition to probe the legality of all acts of the crown

2. (transitive) To insert a probe into.

Further reading

• probe in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• probe in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Anagrams

• Pober, rebop

Verb

probe

1. First-person singular present of proben.
2. First-person singular subjunctive I of proben.
3. Third-person singular subjunctive I of proben.
4. Imperative singular of proben.

Adjective

probe

1. feminine plural of probo

Adjective

probe

1. vocative masculine singular of probus

References

• probe in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• probe in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• probe in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Hachette