probe

/pɹəʊb/noun

A slim instrument, especially a medical one, used to examine the inside of a wound, organ, or other hard-to-reach place.

Example sentences

“The dentist used a small probe to check each tooth.”
“Push the probe a few centimeters into the compost to measure the heat.”

Headline writers love the investigation sense because it is short: 'police probe'. Space probes explore where people cannot.

Related words

proceedTo continue moving forward or to carry on with an activity.pristineCompletely clean and untouched, as if in its original perfect condition.processorA machine or person that handles or transforms something, such as the chip that runs a computer or an appliance that chops food.printerA machine, typically connected to a computer, that puts text or pictures onto paper; also a similar device that builds three-dimensional objects.proclaimTo state something publicly or officially.principalRanking first in importance; main or chief.