probing

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
probe/prəʊb/

▶noun

• 1 a blunt-ended surgical instrument for exploring a wound or part of the body.

  ■ a small measuring or testing device, especially an electrode.

• 2 an investigation into a crime or other matter.

• 3 (also space probe) an unmanned exploratory spacecraft.

• 4 a projecting device on an aircraft for in-flight refuelling or on a spacecraft for docking with another craft.

▶verb

• 1 physically explore or examine.

• 2 enquire into closely.

– derivatives
prober noun,
probing adjective,
probingly adverb.

– origin ME (as n.): from late L. proba ‘proof’ (in med. L. ‘examination’), from L. probare ‘to test’.