probe

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. An exploratory action, expedition, or device, especially one designed to investigate and obtain information on a remote or unknown region.
2. n. A slender, flexible surgical instrument used to explore a wound or body cavity.
3. n. Biology A substance, such as DNA, that is radioactively labeled or otherwise marked and used to detect or identify another substance in a sample.
4. n. The act of exploring or searching with or as if with a device or instrument.
5. n. An investigation into unfamiliar matters or questionable activities; a penetrating inquiry: a congressional probe into price fixing. See Synonyms at inquiry.
6. n. A space probe.
7. v. To explore with or as if with a probe: probe a wound; probe one's motives.
8. v. To delve into; investigate.
9. v. To conduct an exploratory investigation; search.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. To examine with or as with a probe; explore, as a wound or other cavity, especially of the body: often used of searching for some extraneous object in a part or organ by means of an instrument thrust into it.
2. Figuratively, to search to the bottom; scrutinize; examine thoroughly into.
3. To prick, as a sealed can, so as to allow the compressed air or gas within to escape.
4. n. A proof; a trial; a test.
5. n. A printer's proof.
6. n. In surgery, a slender flexible rod of silver or other substance for examining the conditions of a wound or other cavity, or the direction of a sinus.

Wiktionary

1. n. Any of various medical instruments used to explore wounds, organs etc. [from 15th c.]
2. n. Something which penetrates something else, as though to explore; something which obtains information. [from 17th c.]
3. n. An act of probing; a prod, a poke. [from 19th c.]
4. n. An investigation or inquiry. [from 20th c.]
5. n. A tube attached to an aircraft which can be fitted into the drogue from a tanker aircraft to allow for aerial refuelling. [from 20th c.]
6. n. A small device, especially an electrode, used to explore, investigate or measure something by penetrating or being placed in it. [from 20th c.]
7. n. A small, usually unmanned, spacecraft used to acquire information or measurements about its surroundings. [from 20th c.]
8. n. a move with multiple answers seeking to make the opponent choose and commit to a strategy
9. v. To explore, investigate, or question

GNU Webster's 1913

1. v. To examine, as a wound, an ulcer, or some cavity of the body, with a probe.
2. v. Fig.: to search to the bottom; to scrutinize or examine thoroughly.
3. n. An instrument for examining the depth or other circumstances of a wound, ulcer, or cavity, or the direction of a sinus, of for exploring for bullets, for stones in the bladder, etc.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. an investigation conducted using a flexible surgical instrument to explore an injury or a body cavity
2. v. examine physically with or as if with a probe
3. n. an exploratory action or expedition
4. v. question or examine thoroughly and closely
5. n. a flexible slender surgical instrument with a blunt end that is used to explore wounds or body cavities
6. n. an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities