an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities
"there was a congressional probe into the scandal"
a flexible slender surgical instrument with a blunt end that is used to explore wounds or body cavities
"The surgeon gently inserted the probe into the wound to check for any remaining foreign objects before closing it."
an exploratory action or expedition
"The scientists launched a probe to Mars in hopes of discovering signs of ancient life."
an investigation conducted using a flexible surgical instrument to explore an injury or a body cavity
"The doctor used a probe to carefully examine the wound and check for any remaining debris inside the cavity."
Any of various medical instruments used to explore wounds, organs, etc.
"The surgeon carefully inserted a probe into the wound to check for any remaining debris before closing it up."
In plain English: A probe is an object used to explore something hidden by reaching inside it without opening it up first.
"The investigation team launched an official probe into the bank's financial records to uncover any irregularities."
Usage: As a noun, probe refers specifically to a slender instrument inserted into a wound or body cavity to examine it. Use this term when describing the physical tool rather than the general act of investigation, which is better expressed as an intransitive verb like "investigate."
To explore, investigate, or question
"The detective decided to probe further into the witness's testimony to uncover any inconsistencies."
In plain English: To probe means to carefully investigate something by asking questions or looking into it closely.
"The detective will probe the witness to get more details about what happened."
A model of Ford automobile.
"The vintage car collector found his dream, a rare 1960s Ford Probe, in the dusty garage."
The verb "probe" was borrowed from the Latin word probare, which originally meant to test or examine something because it was considered good. The noun form came later from Late Latin proba, referring specifically to a proof or instrument used for testing, and entered English as a doublet of the word "proof."