examine vs probe

examine

verb
  • to observe or inspect carefully or critically 

  • to interrogate 

  • to determine the aptitude, skills or qualifications of someone by subjecting them to an examination 

  • to check the health or condition of something or someone 

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 examine and probe occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )