Definition of probe
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : a slender medical instrument used especially for exploration (as of a wound or body cavity)
2a : any of various testing devices or substances: such 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 (such as an ultrasound generator) or a substance (such 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
3a : the action of probing
b : a penetrating or critical investigation
c : a tentative exploratory advance or survey
probe
verbprobed; probing
Definition of probe (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : to search into and explore very thoroughly : subject to a penetrating investigation
2 : to examine with a probe
unmanned vehicles probed space
: to make a searching exploratory investigation
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Time Traveler for probe
The first known use of probe was circa 1543
See more words from the same year