noun
probe
prohb
noun
1
A formal investigation into a matter, often one involving wrongdoing.
"Authorities launched a probe into the company's accounting practices."
2
A slender instrument used to explore a wound, cavity, or piece of equipment.
"The doctor used a thin metal probe to check the depth of the wound."
3
An uncrewed spacecraft sent to gather information about a distant location.
"The space probe sent back the first close-up images of the planet's surface."
verb
1
To investigate or examine something closely, often to uncover hidden information.
"Reporters probed deeper into the senator's finances."
How to Use Probe
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo investigate closely — or a tool/instrument (physical or figurative) used to do that investigating.
Common pairings
launch a probe
probe into
space probe
Word Forms
probed past tense, probes plural, probes singular
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Etymology
From Latin probare, "to test or examine" — a doublet of "prove."