probe

A small device placed inside or against something to measure or examine it.

• Put the probe in the soil.
• The probe measures the water temperature.
• The technician replaced two faulty probes.

Similar words: sensor

Common phrases: temperature probe, soil probe, electrical probe

A spacecraft without people that gathers information about space, planets, or moons.

• The probe reached Mars.
• Scientists launched a probe to study the moon.
• Two probes sent back pictures of the planet.

Common phrases: space probe, lunar probe, launch a probe

A thin medical tool used to examine inside a wound or part of the body.

• The doctor used a thin probe.
• A sterile probe was inserted into the wound.
• The surgeon checked the tissue with a probe.

Common phrases: surgical probe, sterile probe, insert a probe

To examine something closely or ask questions to discover hidden information.

• Police will probe the case.
• She probed deeper into his reasons for leaving.
• The reporter is probing allegations of corruption.

How to use it: probe into something (Investigators probed into the missing money.)

Similar words: investigate, examine, look into

Common phrases: probe into something, probe the cause, probe more deeply

To examine inside something by putting a thin tool into it.

• The doctor probed the wound.
• She carefully probed the hole with a metal tool.
• The surgeon probed the cavity for damaged tissue.

How to use it: probe something with something (The doctor probed the wound with a sterile instrument.)

Common phrases: probe a wound, probe the cavity, gently probe something