probe
pronunciation
How to pronounce probe in British English:
UK [prəʊb]
How to pronounce probe in American English:
US [proʊb]
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- Noun:
- an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities
- a flexible slender surgical instrument used to explore wounds or body cavities
- an exploratory action or expedition
- an investigation conducted using a probe instrument
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- Verb:
- question or examine thoroughly and closely
- examine physically with or as if with a probe
Word Origin
- probe (n.)
- early 15c., "instrument for exploring wounds, etc.," also "an examination," from Medieval Latin proba "examination," in Late Latin "a test, proof," from Latin probare (see prove). Meaning "act of probing" is 1890, from the verb; figurative sense of "penetrating investigation" is from 1903. Meaning "small, unmanned exploratory craft" is attested from 1953.
- probe (v.)
- 1640s, originally figurative; "to search thoroughly, interrogate;" from probe (n.) and partly from Latin probare. Literal sense of "to examine with a probe" is from 1680s. Related: Probed; probing; probingly.
Synonym
Example
- 1. Sleuths are also hired to probe the provenance of money .
- 2. 2007 : First unmanned lunar probe is launched .
- 3. Instead of using the traditional gold wires , the researchers built a probe from an ultra-thin piece of plastic .
- 4. Currently scientists are able to probe human brain activity in several ways .
- 5. Russia and china will jointly launch an unmanned mars probe later this year .