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Meaning of PROVE

Pronunciation:  proov

WordNet Dictionary
 
 Definition: 
  1. [v]  establish the validity of something, as by an example, explanation or experiment; "The experiment demonstrated the instability of the compound"; "The mathematician showed the validity of the conjecture"
  2. [v]  prove formally; demonstrate by a mathematical, formal proof
  3. [v]  obtain probate of, as of a will
  4. [v]  provide evidence for; "The blood test showed that he was the father"; "Her behavior testified to her incompetence"
  5. [v]  take a trial impression of
  6. [v]  cause to puff up with a leaven; of dough; "unleavened bread"
  7. [v]  increase in volume; of dough
  8. [v]  put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to; "This approach has been tried with good results"; "Test this recipe"
  9. [v]  be shown or be found to be; "She proved to be right"; "The medicine turned out to save her life"; "She turend up HIV positive"
 
 Websites: 
 
 Synonyms: bear witness, demonstrate, essay, establish, evidence, examine, leaven, raise, shew, show, show, test, testify, try, try out, turn out, turn up
 
 Antonyms: confute, disprove
 
 See Also: abduce, adduce, affirm, attest, authenticate, be, bring up, certify, cite, confirm, contradict, control, corroborate, demonstrate, elevate, ensue, field-test, float, get up, grow, impress, inform, judge, lift, manifest, negate, print, prove, prove, prove oneself, result, rise, stultify, substantiate, support, sustain, verify

 

 

Webster's 1913 Dictionary
 
 Definition: 
  1. \Prove\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Proved}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Proving}.] [OE. prover, F. prouver, fr. L. probare to try,
approve, prove, fr. probus good, proper. Cf. {Probable},
{Proof}, {Probe}.]
1. To try or to ascertain by an experiment, or by a test or
   standard; to test; as, to prove the strength of gunpowder
   or of ordnance; to prove the contents of a vessel by a
   standard measure.
         Thou hast proved mine heart.          --Ps. xvii. 3.
2. To evince, establish, or ascertain, as truth, reality, or
   fact, by argument, testimony, or other evidence.
         They have inferred much from slender premises, and
         conjectured when they could not prove. --J. H.
                                               Newman.
3. To ascertain or establish the genuineness or validity of;
   to verify; as, to prove a will.
4. To gain experience of the good or evil of; to know by
   trial; to experience; to suffer.
         Where she, captived long, great woes did prove.
                                               --Spenser.
5. (Arith.) To test, evince, ascertain, or verify, as the
   correctness of any operation or result; thus, in
   subtraction, if the difference between two numbers, added
   to the lesser number, makes a sum equal to the greater,
   the correctness of the subtraction is proved.
6. (Printing) To take a trial impression of; to take a proof
   of; as, to prove a page.
Syn: To try; verify; justify; confirm; establish; evince;
     manifest; show; demonstrate.

  2. \Prove\, v. i.
1. To make trial; to essay.
2. To be found by experience, trial, or result; to turn out
   to be; as, a medicine proves salutary; the report proves
   false. ``The case proves mortal.'' --Arbuthnot.
         So life a winter's morn may prove.    --Keble.
3. To succeed; to turn out as expected. [Obs.] ``The
   experiment proved not.'' --Bacon.
 

 

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