English · Word Candidate

probe

/pɹəʊb/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: probes · probing · probed

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Any of various medical instruments used to explore wounds, organs, etc.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Any of various medical instruments used to explore wounds, organs, etc. — An anal probe, a fictional instrument commonly used by aliens on abducted humans.

Noun

Examples

You know, XR178.9, we haven't done any anal probes in a while.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

To explore, investigate, question, test, or prove.

Verb

Examples

If you probe further, you may discover different reasons.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

To insert a probe into.

Verb

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “probe” mean?

Any of various medical instruments used to explore wounds, organs, etc.

Is “probe” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.