Definition of "probe"

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

1. (comedy, fiction) An anal probe, a fictional instrument commonly used by aliens on abducted humans.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

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

     2004 August 2, Bayard Russell, nonemorecomic‎

   • You listen here! We don't do anal probes like other aliens, but I'm about to make an exception!

     2009 September 14, Ryan Hudson, “Can I Abduct You?”, in ChannelATE‎

(figuratively) Something which penetrates something else, as though to explore; something which obtains information.  examples

An act of probing; a prod, a poke.  examples

(figuratively) An investigation or inquiry.  examples

(aeronautics) A tube attached to an aircraft which can be fitted into the drogue from a tanker aircraft to allow for aerial refuelling.  examples

(sciences) A small device, especially an electrode, used to explore, investigate or measure something by penetrating or being placed in it.  examples

(astronautics) A small, usually uncrewed, spacecraft used to acquire information or measurements about its surroundings.  examples

(go) a move with multiple answers seeking to make the opponent choose and commit to a strategy  examples

(biochemistry) Any group of atoms or molecules radioactively labeled in order to study a given molecule or other structure  examples

(transitive, intransitive) To explore, investigate, or question  quotations  examples

(transitive) To insert a probe into.  examples