Etymology 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.
You know, XR178.9, we haven't done any anal probes in a while.2004 August 2, Bayard Russell, nonemorecomic:
You listen here! We don't do anal probes like other aliens, but I'm about to make an exception!2009 September 14, Ryan Hudson, “Can I Abduct You?”, in ChannelATE:
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Figuratively Something which penetrates something else, as though to explore; something which obtains information.
Silverberg also gives the reader reader some excellent character insight; deep probes into the minds of all the principals bring the reader closer to the persons involved than might be thought possible with the plot so far removed from the realm of normality.1973 August 4, J. Ralf Green, “The Hossenpfepper Column”, in Gay Community News, page 3:
They launched a probe into the cause of the accident.
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Aeronautics, Aerospace, Business, Engineering, Natural sciences, Physical sciences A tube attached to an aircraft which can be fitted into the drogue from a tanker aircraft to allow for aerial refuelling.
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Sciences A small device, especially an electrode, used to explore, investigate or measure something by penetrating or being placed in it.
Insert the probe into the soil and read the temperature.
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Aerospace, Astronautics, Business, Engineering, Natural sciences, Physical sciences A small, usually uncrewed, spacecraft used to acquire information or measurements about its surroundings.
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A move with multiple possible answers, seeking to make the opponent choose and commit to a strategy.
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Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Natural sciences, Physical sciences Any group of atoms or molecules radioactively labeled in order to study a given molecule or other structure
Etymology 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.
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Ambitransitive To explore, investigate, question, test, or prove.
If you probe further, you may discover different reasons.
the growing disposition to probe the legality of all acts of the crown1827, Henry Hallam, The Constitutional History of England from the Accession of Henry VII. to the Death of George II. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John Murray, […], →OCLC:
1 more example
It was exhilarating to watch him share a meal and then probe deeper into the cultures, the politics, and the heartbeat of the people of the city or country he was in. He seemed so learned, but not in any pretentious way.2019, Chris Meyer, (Please provide the book title or journal name), page 116: