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Definition of proof - 10 dictionary results

proof

  [proof]
Use proof in a Sentence
–noun
1. evidence sufficient to establish a thing as true, or to produce belief in its truth.
2. anything serving as such evidence: What proof do you have?
3. the act of testing or making trial of anything; test; trial: to put a thing to the proof.
4. the establishment of the truth of anything; demonstration.
5. Law. (in judicial proceedings) evidence having probative weight.
6. the effect of evidence in convincing the mind.
7. an arithmetical operation serving to check the correctness of a calculation.
8. Mathematics, Logic. a sequence of steps, statements, or demonstrations that leads to a valid conclusion.
9. a test to determine the quality, durability, etc., of materials used in manufacture.
10. Distilling.
a. the arbitrary standard strength, as of an alcoholic liquor.
b. strength with reference to this standard: “100 proof” signifies a proof spirit, usually 50% alcohol.
11. Photography. a trial print from a negative.
12. Printing.
a. a trial impression, as of composed type, taken to correct errors and make alterations.
b. one of a number of early and superior impressions taken before the printing of the ordinary issue: to pull a proof.
13. (in printmaking) an impression taken from a plate or the like to show the quality or condition of work during the process of execution; a print pulled for examination while working on a plate, block, stone, etc.
14. Numismatics. one of a limited number of coins of a new issue struck from polished dies on a blank having a polished or matte surface.
15. the state of having been tested and approved.
16. proved strength, as of armor.
17. Scots Law. the trial of a case by a judge alone, without a jury.
–adjective
18. able to withstand; successful in not being overcome: proof against temptation.
19. impenetrable, impervious, or invulnerable: proof against outside temperature changes.
20. used for testing or proving; serving as proof.
21. of standard strength, as an alcoholic liquor.
22. of tested or proven strength or quality: proof armor.
23. noting pieces of pure gold and silver that the U.S. assay and mint offices use as standards.
–verb (used with object)
24. to test; examine for flaws, errors, etc.; check against a standard or standards.
25. Printing. prove (def. 7).
26. to proofread.
27. to treat or coat for the purpose of rendering resistant to deterioration, damage, etc. (often used in combination): to proof a house against termites; to shrink-proof a shirt.
28. Cookery.
a. to test the effectiveness of (yeast), as by combining with warm water so that a bubbling action occurs.
b. to cause (esp. bread dough) to rise due to the addition of baker's yeast or other leavening.
Origin:
1175–1225; ME prove, prooff, prof, proufe, alter. (by assoc. with the vowel of prove ) of preove, proeve, prieve, pref < MF preve, proeve, prueve < LL proba a test, akin to L probāre to test and find good; cf. pree

Synonyms:
1. confirmation, demonstration, corroboration, support. See evidence. 3. examination, assay. 18. firm, steadfast.

-proof

 
a combining form meaning “resistant, impervious to” that specified by the initial element: burglarproof; childproof; waterproof.

prove

  [proov] verb, proved, proved or prov⋅en, prov⋅ing.
–verb (used with object)
1. to establish the truth or genuineness of, as by evidence or argument: to prove one's claim.
2. Law. to establish the authenticity or validity of (a will); probate.
3. to give demonstration of by action.
4. to subject to a test, experiment, comparison, analysis, or the like, to determine quality, amount, acceptability, characteristics, etc.: to prove ore.
5. to show (oneself) to have the character or ability expected of one, esp. through one's actions.
6. Mathematics. to verify the correctness or validity of by mathematical demonstration or arithmetical proof.
7. Also, proof. Printing. to take a trial impression of (type, a cut, etc.).
8. to cause (dough) to rise to the necessary lightness.
9. Archaic. to experience.
–verb (used without object)
10. to turn out: The experiment proved to be successful.
11. to be found by trial or experience to be: His story proved false.
12. (of dough) to rise to a specified lightness: Leave covered until it has proved.
Origin:
1125–75; ME proven < OF prover < L probāre to try, test, prove, approve, deriv. of probus good. See probity

Related forms:
prov⋅a⋅ble, adjective
prov⋅a⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, prov⋅a⋅ble⋅ness, noun
prov⋅a⋅bly, adverb
prov⋅en⋅ly, adverb
prover, noun

Synonyms:
1. demonstrate, confirm, substantiate, verify.

Antonyms:
1. disprove.

Usage note:
Either proved or proven is standard as the past participle of prove: Events have proved (or proven) him wrong. As a modifier, proven is by far the more common: a proven fact.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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proof   (prōōf)   
n.  
  1. The evidence or argument that compels the mind to accept an assertion as true.
    1. The validation of a proposition by application of specified rules, as of induction or deduction, to assumptions, axioms, and sequentially derived conclusions.
    2. A statement or argument used in such a validation.
    3. Convincing or persuasive demonstration: was asked for proof of his identity; an employment history that was proof of her dependability.
    4. The state of being convinced or persuaded by consideration of evidence.
    5. A trial sheet of printed material that is made to be checked and corrected. Also called proof sheet.
    6. A trial impression of a plate, stone, or block taken at any of various stages in engraving.
    7. A trial photographic print.
    8. Any of a limited number of newly minted coins or medals struck as specimens and for collectors from a new die on a polished planchet.
    1. Convincing or persuasive demonstration: was asked for proof of his identity; an employment history that was proof of her dependability.
    2. The state of being convinced or persuaded by consideration of evidence.
    3. A trial sheet of printed material that is made to be checked and corrected. Also called proof sheet.
    4. A trial impression of a plate, stone, or block taken at any of various stages in engraving.
    5. A trial photographic print.
    6. Any of a limited number of newly minted coins or medals struck as specimens and for collectors from a new die on a polished planchet.
  4. Determination of the quality of something by testing; trial: put one's beliefs to the proof.
  5. Law The result or effect of evidence; the establishment or denial of a fact by evidence.
  6. The alcoholic strength of a liquor, expressed by a number that is twice the percentage by volume of alcohol present.
  7. Printing
    1. A trial sheet of printed material that is made to be checked and corrected. Also called proof sheet.
    2. A trial impression of a plate, stone, or block taken at any of various stages in engraving.
    3. A trial photographic print.
    4. Any of a limited number of newly minted coins or medals struck as specimens and for collectors from a new die on a polished planchet.
    1. A trial photographic print.
    2. Any of a limited number of newly minted coins or medals struck as specimens and for collectors from a new die on a polished planchet.
  9. Archaic Proven impenetrability: "I was clothed in Armor of proof" (John Bunyan).
adj.  
  1. Fully or successfully resistant; impervious. Often used in combination: waterproof watches; a fireproof cellar door.
  2. Of standard alcoholic strength.
  3. Used in proving or making corrections.
v.   proofed, proof·ing, proofs

v.   tr.
  1. Printing
    1. To make a trial impression of (printed or engraved matter).
    2. To proofread (copy).
    3. To activate (dormant dry yeast) by adding water.
    4. To work (dough) into proper lightness.
    1. To activate (dormant dry yeast) by adding water.
    2. To work (dough) into proper lightness.
  3. To treat so as to make resistant: proof a fabric against shrinkage.
v.   intr.
  1. Printing To proofread.
  2. To become properly light for cooking: The batter proofed overnight.

[Middle English prove, preve, from Anglo-Norman prove and from Old French prueve, both from Late Latin proba, from Latin probāre, to prove; see prove.]
proof'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Proof

Proof\, n. [OF. prove, proeve, F. preuve, fr. L. proba, fr. probare to prove. See Prove.]

1. Any effort, process, or operation designed to establish or discover a fact or truth; an act of testing; a test; a trial.

For whatsoever mother wit or art Could work, he put in proof. --Spenser.

You shall have many proofs to show your skill. --Ford.

Formerly, a very rude mode of ascertaining the strength of spirits was practiced, called the proof. --Ure.

2. That degree of evidence which convinces the mind of any truth or fact, and produces belief; a test by facts or arguments that induce, or tend to induce, certainty of the judgment; conclusive evidence; demonstration.

I'll have some proof. --Shak.

It is no proof of a man's understanding to be able to confirm whatever he pleases. --Emerson.

Note: Properly speaking, proof is the effect or result of evidence, evidence is the medium of proof. Cf. Demonstration, 1.

3. The quality or state of having been proved or tried; firmness or hardness that resists impression, or does not yield to force; impenetrability of physical bodies.

4. Firmness of mind; stability not to be shaken.

5. (Print.) A trial impression, as from type, taken for correction or examination; -- called also proof sheet.

6. (Math.) A process for testing the accuracy of an operation performed. Cf. Prove, v. t., 5.

7. Armor of excellent or tried quality, and deemed impenetrable; properly, armor of proof. [Obs.] --Shak.

Artist's proof, a very early proof impression of an engraving, or the like; -- often distinguished by the artist's signature.

Proof reader, one who reads, and marks correction in, proofs. See def. 5, above.

Syn: Testimony; evidence; reason; argument; trial; demonstration. See Testimony.

Proof

Proof\, a. 1. Used in proving or testing; as, a proof load, or proof charge.

2. Firm or successful in resisting; as, proof against harm; waterproof; bombproof.

I . . . have found thee Proof against all temptation. --Milton.

This was a good, stout proof article of faith. --Burke.

3. Being of a certain standard as to strength; -- said of alcoholic liquors.

Proof charge (Firearms), a charge of powder and ball, greater than the service charge, fired in an arm, as a gun or cannon, to test its strength.

Proof impression. See under Impression.

Proof load (Engin.), the greatest load than can be applied to a piece, as a beam, column, etc., without straining the piece beyond the elastic limit.

Proof sheet. See Proof, n., 5.

Proof spirit (Chem.), a strong distilled liquor, or mixture of alcohol and water, containing not less than a standard amount of alcohol. In the United States "proof spirit is defined by law to be that mixture of alcohol and water which contains one half of its volume of alcohol, the alcohol when at a temperature of 60[deg] Fahrenheit being of specific gravity 0.7939 referred to water at its maximum density as unity. Proof spirit has at 60[deg] Fahrenheit a specific gravity of 0.93353, 100 parts by volume of the same consisting of 50 parts of absolute alcohol and 53.71 parts of water," the apparent excess of water being due to contraction of the liquids on mixture. In England proof spirit is defined by Act 58, George III., to be such as shall at a temperature of 51[deg] Fahrenheit weigh exactly the 12/13 part of an equal measure of distilled water. This contains 49.3 per cent by weight, or 57.09 by volume, of alcohol. Stronger spirits, as those of about 60, 70, and 80 per cent of alcohol, are sometimes called second, third, and fourth proof spirits respectively.

Proof staff, a straight-edge used by millers to test the flatness of a stone.

Proof stick (Sugar Manuf.), a rod in the side of a vacuum pan, for testing the consistency of the sirup.

Proof text, a passage of Scripture used to prove a doctrine.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : proof
Spanish: prueba,
German: der Beweis,
Japanese: 証拠
More Translations »

proof 
c.1225, preove, "evidence to establish the fact of (something)," from O.Fr. prueve (c.1224), from L.L. proba "a proof," a back-formation from L. probare "to prove" (see prove). Meaning "act of testing or making trial of anything" is from c.1380. Sense of "tested power" led to fireproof (early 17c.), waterproof (1736), foolproof (1902), etc. Meaning "standard of strength of distilled liquor" is from 1705. Typographical sense of "trial impression to test type" is from 1600; proofreader first attested 1832. Numismatic sense of "coin struck to test a die" is from 1762; now mostly in ref. to coins struck from highly polished dies, mainly for collectors.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: proof
Function: noun
Etymology: alteration of Middle English preove, from Old French preuve, from Late Latin proba, from Latin probare to prove
1 : the effect of evidence sufficient to persuade a reasonable person that a particular fact exists —see also EVIDENCE
2 : the establishment or persuasion by evidence that a particular fact exists —see also BURDEN OF PROOF
3 : something (as evidence) that proves or tends to prove the existence of a particular fact —see also CLEAR AND CONVINCING, PREPONDERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE, REASONABLE DOUBT, STANDARD OF PROOF —compare ALLEGATION, ARGUMENT
4 : PROBATE 1a
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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proof   (prf)  Pronunciation Key 
A demonstration of the truth of a mathematical or logical statement, based on axioms and theorems derived from those axioms.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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proof
1. A finite sequence of well-formed formulas, F1, F2, ... Fn, where each Fi either is an axiom, or follows by some rule of inference from some of the previous F's, and Fn is the statement being proved.
See also proof theory.
2. A left-associative natural language parser by Craig R. Latta . Ported to Decstation 3100, Sun-4.
(ftp://scam.berkeley.edu/pub/src/local/proof/).
E-mail: . Mailing list: proof-requestf@xcf.berkeley.edu (Subject: add me).
(1994-11-29)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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