proof
proof Lexical Profile
proof Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Evidence or argument establishing, or helping to establish, a fact or the truth of a statement.
"The prosecutor presented undeniable proof that the suspect had been at the scene of the crime."
A sequence of deductive steps or statements demonstrating the logical validity of a mathematical theorem or philosophical proposition.
"The mathematician spent seven years constructing a rigorous formal proof for the famous conjecture."
A trial impression of a page, print, engraving, or photograph, taken to examine and correct errors before final production.
"The author carefully reviewed the galley proofs of her novel before it was sent to the printer."
A measure of the strength of distilled alcoholic beverages based on the percentage of alcohol by volume (in the US, equal to twice the percentage of alcohol by volume).
"A standard bottle of vodka is typically eighty proof, meaning it contains forty percent alcohol by volume."
• adjective
Able to withstand or resist a specified damaging agent, force, or influence (often used in combination or followed by 'against').
"The heavy-duty safe was designed to be completely proof against both fire and water damage."
Of a standard strength or purity (especially with reference to distilled alcoholic beverages or coins struck for collectors).
"The distillery bottled the whiskey at cask strength rather than diluting it to standard proof levels."
• verb
To make a trial print of a text or examine it closely in order to find and correct typographical errors; to proofread.
"She asked a colleague to proof the final report before submitting it to the board of directors."
To make a fabric, material, or object resistant or impervious to a damaging agent such as water, fire, or bullets.
"Before hiking in the Pacific Northwest, he proofed his canvas tent and boots with a silicone wax spray."
To activate yeast by dissolving it in warm liquid, or to allow kneaded bread dough to rise and ferment before baking.
"Cover the bowl with a damp towel and let the sourdough proof in a warm spot for two hours."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Proof' (mostly noun/adjective) should not be confused with 'prove' (the general verb for demonstrating truth); as a verb, 'proof' is typically restricted to specialized contexts like proofreading text, activating yeast in baking, or treating fabric to make it water-resistant.
• Rhymes for proof
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Old French 'pruve' or 'proeve', from Late Latin 'proba' ('a test, proof'), which is a back-formation from Latin 'probare' ('to test, approve, demonstrate'), derived from 'probus' ('good, honest, upright').