exploration vs probe

exploration and probe both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
exploration	Yes	No	No	No
probe	Yes	No	Yes	No

As nouns, probe is a hyponym of exploration; that is, probe is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than exploration:

exploration (noun)	probe (noun)
a careful systematic search	an exploratory action or expedition
to travel for the purpose of discovery	an investigation conducted using a flexible surgical instrument to explore an injury or a body cavity
a systematic consideration	a flexible slender surgical instrument with a blunt end that is used to explore wounds or body cavities
	an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities

exploration (verb)	probe (verb)
	question or examine thoroughly and closely
	examine physically with or as if with a probe