probe Definition

probe
noun

1. A long, slender and usually metal instrument used by doctors to examine a wound, locate a bullet, etc.
2. A comprehensive investigation.

Thesaurus: investigation, inquiry, exploration, inquest, research, drill, scrutiny, study, detection.
3. An unmanned spacecraft designed to study conditions in space, especially around one or more planets or their natural satellites.

Form: space probe (also)
4. An act of probing; a poke or prod.

verb probed, probing

1. To investigate it closely.

Thesaurus: explore, examine, investigate, look into, search, sift, go into, query, scrutinize, sound, test, verify.
tr & intr
2. To examine it with a probe.
tr & intr
3. To poke or prod it.

Etymology: 16c: from Latin proba, from probare to test or prove.