PROBING Definition & Meaning

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probing

[ proh-bing ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

examining, investigating, or exploring something in a deep or searching way:
There was scarcely any discussion of the proposal—no probing questions, and no legal or ethical issues raised.

the act or practice of examining, investigating, or exploring something in a deep or searching way:
Constant probing of the night sky by scientists reveals an abundance of activity within our solar system.
the act of examining or exploring something by means of a probe or any of various instruments, devices, etc.:
Probing of the blocked duct was done under anesthesia.
Computers. the process of scanning a network, database, webpage, web app, etc., in order to obtain information about its structure and any security weaknesses that could be used to launch an attack: undertaken either maliciously by hostile parties, or diagnostically and preventively by those wishing to improve security.

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Origin of probing¹

First recorded in 1660–70; 2000–05 gauging fordef 3; probe ( def ) + -ing ²( def ) for the adjective sense; probe ( def ) + -ing ¹( def ) for the noun senses

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Examples have not been reviewed.

Rather, it’s keen on probing our sick and broken world to reveal all of the hope that still exists in the shadows.

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Working with Jones seemed an interesting avenue for probing that theme.

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Asking critical questions and probing more profoundly, “that’s what makes it different from a town hall,” he emphasizes.

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The paper ran a radio ad that declared: “K.W. Lee … digging, probing, tackling the bureaucracy, infiltrating the unknown!”

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The New Zealand captain was as disciplined as ever with his left-arm spin, finding a probing line and length and subtly varying his pace.

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