probe

¹probe

noun \ˈprōb\

Definition of PROBE

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

Examples of PROBE

1. The FBI probe did not produce any new evidence.
2. <a congressional probe into the accusations>

Origin of PROBE

Medieval Latin proba examination, from Latin probare

First Known Use: 1580

Related to PROBE

Synonyms: delving, disquisition, examen, examination, exploration, inquest, inquisition, investigation, probation, inquiry, probing, research, study

Related Words: quest; audit, check; checkup, diagnosis, inspection; hearing, interrogation, trial; feeler, query, question; poll, questionary, questionnaire, survey; challenge, cross-examination, going-over, grilling, quiz; rehearing, reinvestigation; self-examination, self-exploration, self-questioning, self-reflection, self-scrutiny, soul-searching

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Other Aeronautics/Aerospace Terms

airway, apron, corridor, dirigible, fishtail, flat-hat, vector

Rhymes with PROBE

daube, Dobe, globe, Job, lobe, robe, strobe