probe

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to touch or move something with a tool or your hands to see what is inside.

v. to explore or examine a physical space or object by poking or searching with an instrument.

“The doctor used a small tool to probe the wound for any glass.”

“The archaeologist carefully used a brush and a small metal pick to probe the soil around the delicate pottery fragments.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal

n. a long and careful search for the truth about something, like a crime or a problem.

n. a thorough and often official inquiry or investigation into a matter.

Español:sondeo

“The police launched a probe into the cause of the mysterious fire.”

“Following the market crash, the government initiated a high-level probe to determine if any regulatory failures had occurred.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Science

n. a small spacecraft without people that is sent into space to collect information.

n. an uncrewed exploratory spacecraft designed to transmit chemical or physical data from outer space.

“The space probe sent back amazing photos of the surface of Mars.”

“The robotic probe successfully entered the planet's atmosphere, deploying sensors to measure the chemical composition of the gas clouds.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Medicine Technical

n. a thin tool used by doctors or scientists to look inside something or measure it.

n. a slender instrument used for exploring a cavity, wound, or for measuring physical properties at a specific point.

“The dentist used a metal probe to check for cavities in my teeth.”

“The surgeon used a sterile probe to determine the depth of the incision before proceeding with the delicate operation.”