probe

(prōb)

a. A slender, flexible surgical instrument used to explore a wound or body cavity.

b. An electrode or other device that can be placed inside something to take and convey measurements.

c. A substance, such as DNA, that is radioactively labeled or otherwise marked and used to detect or identify another substance in a sample.

d. A space probe.

a. An exploratory action or expedition, especially one designed to investigate and obtain information on a remote or unknown region: the scouts' probe of enemy territory.

b. The act of exploring or searching with a device or instrument: the surgeon's probe of the clogged artery.

c. An investigation into unfamiliar matters or questionable activities; a penetrating inquiry: a congressional probe into price fixing; a reporter's probe into a public figure's past. See Synonyms at inquiry.

v. probed, prob·ing, probes

v.tr.

a. To penetrate or explore physically, especially with a probe, in order to find or discover something: "Chimpanzees use a variety of tools to probe termite mounds" (Virginia Morell).

b. To investigate by means of a chemical probe.

a. To make an inquiry about (something); investigate or examine: probed the impact of technology on social behavior.

b. To subject (a person) to questioning; interrogate.

v.intr.

1. To make a physical search, especially by penetrating with a probe: birds probing in the sand for clams.

2. To pose questions or conduct an investigation: The police are probing into what really happened.

[Middle English, examination, from Medieval Latin proba, from Late Latin, proof, from Latin probāre, to test, from probus, good; see per in Indo-European roots.]

prob′er n.

prob′ing·ly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

probing

(ˈprəʊbɪŋ)

the act or an instance of making a thorough inquiry, such as one by a newspaper into corrupt practices

adj

searching or questioning closely

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Adj.

probing - diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation; "a probing inquiry"; "a searching investigation of their past dealings"

inquisitory, searching

inquiring - given to inquiry; "an inquiring mind"

probing

adjective

Possessing or displaying perceptions of great accuracy and sensitivity:

acute, incisive, keen, penetrating, perceptive, sensitive, sharp, trenchant.

Translations

probing

[ˈprəʊbɪŋ]

A. ADJ [question] → agudo, penetrante

B. N

1. (with probe, instrument) → sondeo m; (with hands) → palpación f, tanteo m

2. (= investigation) → investigación f

3. (= exploration) → exploración f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

probing

[ˈprəʊbɪŋ] n → investigations fpl

probing

n → Untersuchung f; (esp with device) → Sondierung f, → Sondieren nt; all this probing into people’s private affairs → dieses Herumschnüffeln in den privaten Angelegenheiten der Leute

adj question, study, fingers → prüfend

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

probing

[ˈprəʊbɪŋ] adj (look) → penetrante; (question) → sottile; (interrogation, study) → approfondito/a