probe
English
Etymology
For verb: borrowed from Latin probare (“to test, examine, prove”), from probus (“good”).
For noun: borrowed from Late Latin proba (“a proof”), from probare (“to test, examine, prove”); Doublet of proof. Compare Spanish tienta (“a surgeon's probe”), from tentar (“try, test”); see tempt.
Noun
probe (plural probes)
- (surgery) Any of various medical instruments used to explore wounds, organs, etc. [from 15th c.]
- (figuratively) Something which penetrates something else, as though to explore; something which obtains information. [from 17th c.]
- An act of probing; a prod, a poke. [from 19th c.]
- (figuratively) An investigation or inquiry. [from 20th c.]
- They launched a probe into the cause of the accident.
- (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.]
- (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.
- (astronautics) A small, usually unmanned, spacecraft used to acquire information or measurements about its surroundings. [from 20th c.]
- (game of Go) a move with multiple answers seeking to make the opponent choose and commit to a strategy
- (biochemistry) Any group of atoms or molecules radioactively labeled in order to study a given molecule or other structure
Synonyms
- (game of go) yosu-miru
Derived terms
Translations
any of various medical instruments used to explore wounds, organs, etc
investigation or inquiry
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sciences: electrode or other small device
spacecraft
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Verb
probe (third-person singular simple present probes, present participle probing, simple past and past participle probed)
- (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
- (transitive) To insert a probe into.
Translations
to explore, investigate, or question
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Further reading
- probe in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
- probe in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
German
Italian
Latin
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
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