prove

verb

1. (transitive)To demonstrate that something is true or viable; to give proof for; to bear out; to testify.

   “[VV]e are able with playne demonſtration to proue, and vvith reaſon to perſvvade that in tymes paſt our fayth vvas alike, that then vve preached thinges correſpondent vnto the forme of faith already published of vs, ſo that none in this behalfe can repyne or gaynesay vs.”

   “Mr. H …, whom no distinctions of that sort seemed to disturb, scarce gave himself or me breathing time from the last encounter, but, as if he had task'd himself to prove that the appearances of his vigour were not signs hung out in vain, in a few minutes he was in a condition for renewing the onset”

   “Valentine’s Day means different things for different people. For Homer, it means forking over a hundred dollars for a dusty box of chocolates at the Kwik-E-Mart after characteristically forgetting the holiday yet again. For Ned, it’s another opportunity to prove his love for his wife. Most germane to the episode, for Lisa, Valentine’s Day means being the only person in her entire class to give Ralph a Valentine after noticing him looking crestfallen and alone at his desk.”

   “WikiLeaks did not cause these uprisings but it certainly informed them. The dispatches revealed details of corruption and kleptocracy that many Tunisians suspected, but could not prove, and would cite as they took to the streets. They also exposed the blatant discrepancy between the west's professed values and actual foreign policies.”

   ““The commission is not set up to disprove or to prove President Trump’s claim, nor is it just looking at the 2016 election. We’re looking at all forms of election irregularities, voter fraud, voter registration fraud, voter intimidation, suppression, and looking at the vulnerabilities of the various elections we have in each of the 50 states,” Kobach told “New Day” co-host Chris Cuomo.”

2. (intransitive)To turn out; to manifest.

   “It proved to be a cold day.”

3. (copulative)To turn out to be.

   “Have an exit strategy should your calculations prove incorrect.”

   “But ſhall I prooue a traitor to my King?”

   “This battle did not take place in the streets. It took place entirely in words, and it was to prove the turning point in the war.”

   “He met Luis Suarez's cross at the far post, only for Chelsea keeper Petr Cech to show brilliant reflexes to deflect his header on to the bar. Carroll turned away to lead Liverpool's insistent protests that the ball had crossed the line but referee Phil Dowd and assistant referee Andrew Garratt waved play on, with even a succession of replays proving inconclusive.”

4. (transitive)To put to the test, to make trial of.

   “They took the experimental car to the proving-grounds.”

   “The exception proves the rule.”

   “Then may I dare to boast how I do love thee, Till then not show my head where thou may'st prove me.”

   “Wounded and overthrown, the Britons continued their resistance, clung round the legs of the Norman steeds, and cumbered their advance; while their brethren, thrusting with pikes, proved every joint and crevice of the plate and mail, or grappling with the men-at-arms, strove to pull them from their horses by main force, or beat them down with their bills and Welch hooks.”

5. (transitive)To ascertain or establish the genuineness or validity of; to verify.

   “to prove a will”

6. (archaic, transitive)To experience.

   “Where she, captived long, great woes did prove.”

7. (dated, transitive)To take a trial impression of; to take a proof of.

   “to prove a page”

8. (alt-of, alternative)Alternative form of proof (“allow (dough) to rise; test the activeness of (yeast); pressure-test (a firearm)”).
9. To determine by experiment which effects a substance causes when ingested.
10. (form-of, past)simple past of proove

noun

1. The process of dough proofing.

   “You may also need to think about what the prove is doing to the loaf of bread — it is warming the dough and making it moist, allowing it to rise […]”