- probe
-
I. noun
Etymology: Medieval Latin proba examination, from Latin probare
Date: 1580
1. a slender medical instrument used especially for exploration (as of a wound or body cavity)
2.
a. any of various testing devices or substances: as
(1) a pointed metal tip for making electrical contact with a circuit element being checked
(2) a usually small object that is inserted into something so as to test conditions at a given point
(3) a device used to penetrate or send back information especially from outer space or a celestial body
(4) a device (as an ultrasound generator) or a substance (as radioactively labeled DNA) used to obtain specific information for diagnostic or experimental purposes
b. a pipe on the receiving airplane thrust into the drogue of the delivering airplane in air refueling
3.
a. the action of probing
b. a penetrating or critical investigation
c. a tentative exploratory advance or survey
II. verb
(probed; probing)
Date: 1649
transitive verb
1. to search into and explore very thoroughly ; subject to a penetrating investigation
2. to examine with a probe <unmanned vehicles probed space> intransitive verb to make a searching exploratory investigation Synonyms: see enter • prober noun
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.