PROOF

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does proof mean? 

• PROOF (noun)
  The noun PROOF has 6 senses:

1. any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something

2. a formal series of statements showing that if one thing is true something else necessarily follows from it

3. a measure of alcoholic strength expressed as an integer twice the percentage of alcohol present (by volume)

4. (printing) an impression made to check for errors

5. a trial photographic print from a negative

6. the act of validating; finding or testing the truth of something

  Familiarity information: PROOF used as a noun is common.

• PROOF (adjective)
  The adjective PROOF has 1 sense:

1. (used in combination or as a suffix) able to withstand

  Familiarity information: PROOF used as an adjective is very rare.

• PROOF (verb)
  The verb PROOF has 5 senses:

1. make or take a proof of, such as a photographic negative, an etching, or typeset

2. knead to reach proper lightness

3. read for errors

4. activate by mixing with water and sometimes sugar or milk

5. make resistant (to harm)

  Familiarity information: PROOF used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PROOF (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

cogent evidence; proof

Context example:

if you have any proof for what you say, now is the time to produce it

Hypernyms ("proof" is a kind of...):

evidence; grounds (your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "proof"):

check; confirmation; substantiation; verification (additional proof that something that was believed (some fact or hypothesis or theory) is correct)

establishment; validation (the cognitive process of establishing a valid proof)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A formal series of statements showing that if one thing is true something else necessarily follows from it

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("proof" is a kind of...):

argument; statement (a fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true)

Domain category:

logic (the branch of philosophy that analyzes inference)

math; mathematics; maths (a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "proof"):

mathematical proof (proof of a mathematical theorem)

demonstration; monstrance (proof by a process of argument or a series of proposition proving an asserted conclusion)

logical proof (proof of a logical theorem)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A measure of alcoholic strength expressed as an integer twice the percentage of alcohol present (by volume)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Hypernyms ("proof" is a kind of...):

amount; measure; quantity (how much there is or how many there are of something that you can quantify)

Sense 4

Meaning:

(printing) an impression made to check for errors

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

proof; test copy; trial impression

Hypernyms ("proof" is a kind of...):

impression; printing (all the copies of a work printed at one time)

Domain category:

printing; printing process (reproduction by applying ink to paper as for publication)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "proof"):

galley proof (a proof taken before the type is broken up to print pages)

foundry proof (a proof taken from a form before duplicate plates are made)

Derivation:

proof (read for errors)

proof (make or take a proof of, such as a photographic negative, an etching, or typeset)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A trial photographic print from a negative

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("proof" is a kind of...):

photographic print; print (a printed picture produced from a photographic negative)

Derivation:

proof (make or take a proof of, such as a photographic negative, an etching, or typeset)

Sense 6

Meaning:

The act of validating; finding or testing the truth of something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

proof; substantiation; validation

Hypernyms ("proof" is a kind of...):

determination; finding (the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "proof"):

documentation; support (documentary validation)

monetisation; monetization (establishing something (e.g. gold or silver) as the legal tender of a country)

probate (the act of proving that an instrument purporting to be a will was signed and executed in accord with legal requirements)

authentication; certification (validating the authenticity of something or someone)

• PROOF (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(used in combination or as a suffix) able to withstand

Context example:

childproof locks

Similar:

imperviable; impervious (not admitting of passage or capable of being affected)

• PROOF (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they proof    ... he / she / it proofs   
Past simple: proofed   
Past participle: proofed   
-ing form: proofing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make or take a proof of, such as a photographic negative, an etching, or typeset

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "proof" is one way to...):

create; make; produce (create or manufacture a man-made product)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

proof (a trial photographic print from a negative)

proof ((printing) an impression made to check for errors)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Knead to reach proper lightness

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

proof dough

Hypernyms (to "proof" is one way to...):

knead; work (make uniform)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Read for errors

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

proof; proofread

Context example:

I should proofread my manuscripts

Hypernyms (to "proof" is one way to...):

ascertain; assure; check; control; ensure; insure; see; see to it (be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something)

"Proof" entails doing...:

read (interpret something that is written or printed)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

proof ((printing) an impression made to check for errors)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Activate by mixing with water and sometimes sugar or milk

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

proof yeast

Hypernyms (to "proof" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 5

Meaning:

Make resistant (to harm)

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

proof the materials against shrinking in the dryer

Hypernyms (to "proof" is one way to...):

strengthen (gain strength)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "proof"):

bombproof (make safe against bombings)

bulletproof (make bulletproof)

child-proof; childproof (make safe against children)

foolproof; goof-proof; goofproof (proof against human misuse or error)

fireproof (make resistant to fire)

weatherproof (make resistant to bad weather)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

‘You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I have heard of you.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I had, however, promised to take tea in a friend’s rooms, so I left the proof upon my desk.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Van Helsing summed it all up as he said, with our boy on his knee:—We want no proofs; we ask none to believe us!

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

This is full proof undoubtedly; proof of every thing you were saying.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

On discovering his error, to turn her from the house seemed the best, though to his feelings an inadequate proof of his resentment towards herself, and his contempt of her family.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Henry Crawford's retaining her hand at such a moment, a moment of such peculiar proof and importance, was worth ages of doubt and anxiety.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

It was the only absolute proof of my experiences which I was able to bring away with me.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Still, resumed Miss Murdstone, I found no proof until last night.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

"How kind everyone is to us!" she said, turning to find fresh proof of it in the respectful sympathy of the young man's face.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

As a proof I will tell you some of the facts upon which my conclusions are based.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)