dig vs probe

dig

verb
  • To investigate, to research, often followed by out or up. 

  • To move hard-packed earth out of the way, especially downward to make a hole with a shovel. Or to drill, or the like, through rocks, roads, or the like. More generally, to make any similar hole by moving material out of the way. 

  • To get by digging; to take from the ground; often with up. 

  • To take ore from its bed, in distinction from making excavations in search of ore. 

  • To defend against an attack hit by the opposing team by successfully passing the ball 

  • To thrust; to poke. 

noun
  • Digoxin. 

  • A defensive pass of the ball that has been attacked by the opposing team. 

  • A cutting, sarcastic remark. 

  • An archeological or paleontological investigation, or the site where such an investigation is taking place. 

  • A rare or interesting vinyl record bought second-hand. 

  • A thrust; a poke. 

  • The occupation of digging for gold. 

  • An innings. 

probe

verb
  • To explore, investigate, or question 

  • To insert a probe into. 

noun
  • A tube attached to an aircraft which can be fitted into the drogue from a tanker aircraft to allow for aerial refuelling. 

  • A small, usually unmanned, spacecraft used to acquire information or measurements about its surroundings. 

  • Something which penetrates something else, as though to explore; something which obtains information. 

  • An anal probe, a fictional instrument commonly used by aliens on abducted humans. 

  • An investigation or inquiry. 

  • a move with multiple answers seeking to make the opponent choose and commit to a strategy 

  • Any group of atoms or molecules radioactively labeled in order to study a given molecule or other structure 

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

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

  • Any of various medical instruments used to explore wounds, organs, etc. 

How often have the words dig and probe occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )