I. probe 1 /prəʊb $ proʊb/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive and transitive]
1 . to ask questions in order to find things out, especially things that other people do not want you to know
probe into
I don’t want to probe too deeply into your personal affairs.
Police probed claims that he had sold drugs.
2 . to look for something or examine something, using a long thin object:
Jules probed the mud gingerly with a stick.
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THESAURUS
▪ investigate to try to find out the truth about something such as a crime, accident, or scientific problem:
Police are investigating an explosion in the city centre.
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The aim of the study is to investigate how climate change is affecting animal behaviour.
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There were fears he may have drowned in the lake, so divers were sent down to investigate.
▪ look into something to find out more about a problem, especially after someone has asked you to do this:
The manager promised to look into my complaint.
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Please could you look into the matter for me?
▪ explore to consider or discuss something, in order to help you decide what you should do:
Military leaders are exploring new ways of defending the United States from terrorism.
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I’m going to explore the possibility of a part-time job.
▪ probe [intransitive and transitive] to try to find secret or hidden information, especially by asking questions:
The press began probing into the actor’s private life.
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We have been probing the reasons why the government has been so slow to react to the problem of climate change.
▪ delve [intransitive] to look somewhere in order to try to find more information about something, especially something that is difficult to find out about:
Over the past year Ms Deen has been delving into the national archives, in order to discover information on the early Muslim settlers.
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I think we need to delve a little deeper.
▪ be under investigation if someone or their activities are under investigation, the police are trying to find out if they have done something illegal:
Several public figures are under investigation for corruption.
II. probe 2 BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Medieval Latin ; Origin: proba , from Latin probare 'to test, prove' ]
1 . a long thin metal instrument that doctors and scientists use to examine parts of the body
2 . a ↑ space probe
3 . an ↑ investigation in which many questions are asked to discover the truth about something:
a police corruption probe
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THESAURUS
▪ investigation a process in which the police or another organization try to find out the truth about a crime or accident:
Following a major police investigation, two men were arrested.
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The investigation into the causes of the air crash are continuing.
▪ inquiry an official process to find out why something happened, which usually takes several months or years:
Local people are calling for an inquiry into the accident.
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An independent inquiry found serious shortcomings at the children’s home.
▪ case a matter that police or officials are trying to find out information about, especially so that it can be dealt with in a court of law:
The case has never been solved.
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The police say it is one of the most puzzling cases they have had to deal with.
▪ probe an investigation in which many questions are asked to find out the truth about something – used especially in journalism:
The TV show featured a probe into charges charged by high street banks.
▪ inquest a legal investigation to find out why someone died:
The inquest heard that Mr Swan was poisoned.
▪ survey a process in which people are asked questions in order to find out about their opinions or about their behaviour:
They did a survey to find out the most popular pop star.
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Based on a survey of 250 companies, the report says that ‘ over two thirds of companies expect operating costs to increase as a result of addressing environmental issues.
▪ autopsy British English a medical examination of a dead person’s body, to find out why that person died:
If she died of a drug overdose, it would show up in the autopsy.