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Probe Definition

probe

See also Probe

Contents

English

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

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

Synonyms

Derived terms

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.
  2. (transitive) To insert a probe into.

Related terms

Translations

to explore, investigate, or question
  • Norwegian: undersøke, utforske
  • Russian: исследовать (ru) (isslédovat'), расследовать (ru) (rasslédovat'), зондировать (ru) (zondírovat')
  • Scottish Gaelic: iarr (gd)
  • Spanish: sondar (es), sondear (es)

External links

German

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.

Italian

Adjective

probe f.

  1. Feminine plural form of probo

Latin

Adjective

probe

  1. vocative masculine singular of probus

 

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