I. ˈprōb noun
Etymology: Medieval Latin proba examination, from Latin probare
Date: 1580
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
II. verb
( probed ; prob·ing )
Date: 1649
transitive verb
1. : to search into and explore very thoroughly : subject to a penetrating investigation
2. : to examine with a probe
unmanned vehicles probed space
intransitive verb
: to make a searching exploratory investigation
Synonyms: see enter
• prob·er noun