pro -a m (pro-ams ) also pro am N‑COUNT [oft N n] A pro-am is a sports competition in which professional and amateur players compete together. □ …a sponsored pro-am golf tournament.
prob|abil|is|tic /prɒ bəb I l I st I k/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Probabilistic actions, methods, or arguments are based on the idea that you cannot be certain about results or future events but you can judge whether or not they are likely, and act on the basis of this judgment. [FORMAL ] □ …probabilistic exposure to risk.
prob|abil|ity /prɒ bəb I l I ti/ (probabilities )
1 N‑VAR The probability of something happening is how likely it is to happen, sometimes expressed as a fraction or a percentage. □ [+ of ] Without a transfusion, the victim's probability of dying was 100%. □ [+ of ] The probabilities of crime or victimization are higher with some situations than with others.
2 N‑VAR You say that there is a probability that something will happen when it is likely to happen. [VAGUENESS ] □ If you've owned property for several years, the probability is that values have increased. □ His story-telling can push the bounds of probability a bit far at times.
3 PHRASE If you say that something will happen in all probability , you mean that you think it is very likely to happen. [VAGUENESS ] □ The Republicans had better get used to the fact that in all probability, they are going to lose.
prob|able /prɒ bəb ə l/
1 ADJ If you say that something is probable , you mean that it is likely to be true or likely to happen. [VAGUENESS ] □ It is probable that the medication will suppress the symptom without treating the condition. □ An airline official said a bomb was the incident's most probable cause.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] You can use probable to describe a role or function that someone or something is likely to have. □ The Socialists united behind their probable presidential candidate.
prob|ably ◆◆◆ /prɒ bəbli/
1 ADV If you say that something is probably the case, you think that it is likely to be the case, although you are not sure. [VAGUENESS ] □ The White House probably won't make this plan public until July. □ Van Gogh is probably the best-known painter in the world.
2 ADV You can use probably when you want to make your opinion sound less forceful or definite, so that you do not offend people. [VAGUENESS ] □ He probably thinks you're both crazy! SYNONYMS probably ADV 1
likely: Profit will most likely have risen by about £25 million.
doubtless: She took off her shoes, doubtless because her feet hurt.
presumably: The spear is presumably the murder weapon.
pro|bate /proʊ be I t/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Probate is the act or process of officially proving a will to be valid. □ Probate cases can go on for two years or more.
pro|ba|tion /prəbe I ʃ ə n, [AM ] proʊ -/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Probation is a period of time during which a person who has committed a crime has to obey the law and be supervised by a probation officer, rather than being sent to prison. □ The thief was put on probation for two years.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Probation is a period of time during which someone is judging your character and ability while you work, in order to see if you are suitable for that type of work. □ [+ of ] Employee appointment will be subject to a term of probation of 6 months.
pro|ba|tion|ary /prəbe I ʃənəri, [AM ] proʊbe I ʃəneri/ ADJ [ADJ n] A probationary period is a period after someone starts a job, during which their employer can decide whether the person is suitable and should be allowed to continue. [BUSINESS ] □ Teachers should have a probationary period of two years.
pro|ba|tion|er /prəbe I ʃənə r , proʊ-/ (probationers )
1 N‑COUNT A probationer is someone who has been found guilty of committing a crime but is on probation rather than in prison.
2 N‑COUNT A probationer is someone who is still being trained to do a job and is on trial. □ …a probationer teacher.
pro|ba |tion of|fic|er (probation officers ) N‑COUNT A probation officer is a person whose job is to supervise and help people who have committed crimes and been put on probation.
probe /proʊ b/ (probes , probing , probed )
1 VERB If you probe into something, you ask questions or try to discover facts about it. □ [V + into ] The more they probed into his background, the more inflamed their suspicions would become. □ [V + for ] For three years, I have probed for understanding. □ [V n] The Office of Fair Trading has been probing banking practices. □ [V -ing] The form asks probing questions. ● N‑COUNT Probe is also a noun. □ …a federal grand-jury probe into corruption within the FDA. ● prob|ing (probings ) N‑COUNT □ If he remains here, he'll be away from the press and their probings.
2 VERB If a doctor or dentist probes , he or she uses a long instrument to examine part of a patient's body. □ [V ] The surgeon would pick up his instruments, probe, repair and stitch up again. □ [V prep/adv] Dr Amid probed around the sensitive area.
3 N‑COUNT A probe is a long thin instrument that doctors and dentists use to examine parts of the body. □ …a fibre-optic probe.
4 VERB If you probe a place, you search it in order to find someone or something that you are looking for. □ [V n] A flashlight beam probed the underbrush only yards away from their hiding place. □ [V adv/prep] I probed around for some time in the bushes.
5 VERB In a conflict such as a war, if one side probes another side's defences, they try to find their weaknesses, for example by attacking them in specific areas using a small number of troops. [JOURNALISM ] □ [V n] He probes the enemy's weak positions, ignoring his strongholds. ● N‑COUNT Probe is also a noun. □ Small probes would give the allied armies some combat experience.