# probe

/ˈpɹoʊb/ (US) · /pɹˈəʊb/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/probe
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to investigate

verb · CEFR B2

to ask questions or search for information to find out the truth about something.

For teachers: to conduct a thorough investigation or to search into something closely.

- The reporter began to probe into the company's secret financial records.
- The committee was tasked to probe the allegations of corruption within the department, leaving no stone unturned in their search for evidence.

### 2. to physically explore

verb · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 3. an investigation

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

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

For teachers: a thorough and often official inquiry or investigation into a matter.

- 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.

### 4. spacecraft

noun · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 5. medical/technical tool

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

For teachers: 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.

Usage: In medical contexts, it often refers to a blunt-ended surgical instrument.

## Examples

- The surgeon used a metal probe to examine the injury.
- The medical team used a sterile probe to determine the depth of the wound before starting the procedure.
- Following the surgical error, the hospital board launched a formal probe to identify whether the failure was systemic or the result of individual negligence.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.