probe

Meaning

Noun

1. Any of various medical instruments used to explore wounds, organs, etc.
2. Any of various medical instruments used to explore wounds, organs, etc.
3. (figuratively) Something which penetrates something else, as though to explore; something which obtains information.
4. An act of probing; a prod, a poke.
5. (figuratively) An investigation or inquiry.
6. A tube attached to an aircraft which can be fitted into the drogue from a tanker aircraft to allow for aerial refuelling.
7. A small device, especially an electrode, used to explore, investigate or measure something by penetrating or being placed in it.
8. A small, usually uncrewed, spacecraft used to acquire information or measurements about its surroundings.
9. A move with multiple possible answers, seeking to make the opponent choose and commit to a strategy.
10. Any group of atoms or molecules radioactively labeled in order to study a given molecule or other structure

Verb

1. (ambitransitive) To explore, investigate, question, test, or prove.
2. (transitive) To insert a probe into.

Synonyms

investigate

investigation

explore

examination

sound out

inquiry

examine

sound

🔉

inquire

inspect

inspection

search

pierce

look into

enquiry

survey

research

feel out

test

study

poll

inquire into

bore

exploration

stab

sonde

go into

enter

pervade

seek

🔍

penetrate

check

perforate

scrutinize

permeate

sink in

detector

canvass

stylet

analyze

sift

sounding

spy

poke into

poke

enquire

reconnaissance

gauge

feeler

dig into

Translations

sonde

sonda

Sonde

sonda

sonder

enquête

sonda

examiner

investigação

specillo

investigazione

sondar

examinar

sondare

🔉

καθετήρας

Pronounced as (IPA)

/pɹəʊb/

Etymology

Cognate with Spanish: tienta

In summary

For verb: borrowed from Latin probare (“to test, examine, prove”), from probus (“good”). Doublet of prove.
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.