probing

Pluralprobings

1. 1
   verb

   Present participle of probe.

   Investigators are probing the cause of the warehouse fire.

   She spent the evening probing the database for hidden errors.

   Note

   The spelling drops the silent e of probe before -ing. The result is shared with the adjective and the noun. As a verb it can take an object directly, as in probing the cause or probing a wound. It can also stand without one, as in probing into his past. Here is a quick test: if an object follows with no "of," it is the verb. "A probing of the records" is the noun.

2. 2
   adjective

   Searching deeply into something, especially in an attempt to draw out information that is concealed.

   The committee subjected the nominee to a probing examination of her past decisions.

   His probing questions exposed gaps in the official account.

   Similarsearching, penetrating, incisive, inquisitive, thorough

   Oppositesuperficial, cursory, perfunctory

   Note

   The adjective is gradable: a question can be more probing than another, or the most probing of all. It also fits the pattern too + adjective + a + noun, as in Isaac Asimov's The Caves of Steel (1953): "too probing an inquiry into the state of his health." Its natural partners are questions, inquiries and examinations. It often suggests that the person being questioned would rather not answer.

3. 3
   nouncountable or uncountable

   The act of investigating or exploring something in order to learn more about it.

   The journalist's probing into the scandal lasted several months.

   A thorough probing of the data finally uncovered the error.

   Similarinvestigation, examination, exploration, inquiry, scrutiny

   Note

   It usually works as a mass noun, so the media aim some probing at a player rather than a probing. The plural probings exists for separate acts. Phil McNulty's 2016 BBC Sport report shows how readily it takes a describing adjective, as in "mischievous probing." The same report adds a from-phrase that names who is doing the probing. Words like thorough, persistent and mischievous are typical company.

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