probe
/prəʊb/ (bre, ipa) · /proʊb/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈprōb/ (ame, mw) · /prəʊb/ (ame, ipa)
probe — verb
- probepresent simple I / you / we / they
- probes3rd person singular
- probing-ing form
- probedpast simple
1. to ask someone questions in a careful, indirect way in order to find out informa
to ask someone questions in a careful, indirect way in order to find out information they do not want to share
The reporter probed the politician about the missing funds, but he changed the subject.
transitive: probe + person + about + topic
Sora's friends kept probing into her private life until she asked them to stop.
intransitive: probe + into + noun phrase
During the interview, the lawyer gently probed the witness for details about the accident.
Niran's boss probed him over lunch about why he was looking for other jobs.
Tanvi probed her brother about where he had been all night.
- inquire
more neutral and polite; does not imply the person is hiding something
- investigate
more formal and systematic; often used by authorities
- pry
more negative; suggests annoying, unwanted curiosity
- delve
used with 'into'; suggests deep exploration of a topic rather than questioning a person
文法句型
probe + object (about/for something)
probe + into + noun
用法筆記
Often used with 'into' when the focus is the topic under investigation, or with a direct object naming the person being questioned. The tone suggests the asker is being persistent and the other person is reluctant.
常見錯誤
2. to use a thin tool to search the inside of something, usually to find an object
to use a thin tool to search the inside of something, usually to find an object or problem that is not easy to see
The dentist probed Camille's gum carefully with a small metal tool.
probe + object + with + tool (instrumental)
Using a thin wire, the mechanic probed the engine pipe for a blockage.
probe + object + for + target
The doctor probed the wound gently to see how deep it was.
An archaeologist probed the soil with a long stick to check for buried objects.
Beatrix probed the cake with a skewer to see if it was baked through.
文法句型
probe + object + with + tool
probe + object + for + hidden thing
用法筆記
Commonly followed by 'with' naming the tool used. The direct object is the thing being examined — a body part, piece of equipment, or material.
常見錯誤
probe — noun
- probesingular
- probesplural
1. a careful search for information, especially one carried out by officials or jou
a careful search for information, especially one carried out by officials or journalists who ask many questions
The FBI launched a probe into the banking scandal last spring.
launch a probe + into + topic
Putri's report was based on a year-long probe of wildlife trafficking in Southeast Asia.
The school started a probe after several students complained about unfair grading.
A parliamentary probe found serious problems in the healthcare system.
The journalist's probe into government spending won a national award.
- investigation
more general and slightly less formal than 'probe'
- inquiry
often used for official fact-finding; common in British English
- examination
broader in meaning; can be physical or documentary
- review
focuses on evaluating existing information rather than uncovering new facts
文法句型
launch / conduct / start + a probe
a probe + into + noun
用法筆記
Frequently appears in news reports. Common verbs that go with this sense include 'launch', 'conduct', 'carry out', and 'call for'.
常見錯誤
2. a thin metal instrument that doctors insert into a cut or opening in the body to
a thin metal instrument that doctors insert into a cut or opening in the body to see what is inside
The surgeon used a probe to locate the bullet fragment in the patient's leg.
use a probe + to-infinitive (purpose)
A thin, flexible probe was inserted into Ilan's ear canal to check for infection.
The nurse cleaned the metal probe before passing it to the doctor.
Modern surgical probes have tiny cameras attached to help doctors see inside the body.
During the operation, the probe helped the team find the exact spot of the bleeding.
- instrument
broader term for any medical tool used in procedures
- needle
sharper and used for injections or samples, not exploration
文法句型
use a probe
insert a probe
probe + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Unlike verb sense 2, which focuses on the action, this noun names the tool itself. The most common setting is surgery or wound examination.
3. a device placed inside a space, object, or living body to measure conditions or
a device placed inside a space, object, or living body to measure conditions or send back data
The space probe sent back images of Jupiter's largest moon.
space probe — common compound noun
Scientists lowered a temperature probe into the volcano to measure the heat.
Zayd attached a small probe to the inside of the pipe to monitor water pressure.
A probe placed in the patient's stomach recorded acid levels throughout the day.
The research team used a probe to take samples from the ocean floor.
文法句型
a probe + to-infinitive
probe + in / inside + noun
用法筆記
This sense covers both scientific instruments (temperature, pressure) and unmanned spacecraft. The key idea is that the device is placed somewhere and sends back information.