1.proof的基本意思是“证明,论证”“证据,证物”。当proof指的是证明或论证的过程或方式时,是抽象的概念,用作不可数名词; 当指的是可以证明某事物正确性的具体的事实、信息或文件时,则用作可数名词。
2.proof用作出版术语时可指“校样,样张”,此时多用复数形式,但在指“校样阶段”时,则为不可数名词。proof也可指“(酒类的)强度标准”,作此解时为不可数名词或用在名词之后。
3.proof还可作“验证,考验”解,多用作不可数名词。

be living proof of
活证明show sth by the fact that one is alive
He is living proof of the wonders of modern medicine.他是当代医学奇迹的活证明。
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put to the proof
考验某人〔某物〕; 对某事物的真实性加以检验test sb/sth; test the truth of sth
▲put sb/sth to the proof
That box looks big enough; but let us put it to the proof.那个箱子看起来够大的,但是我们还要把它检验一下。

The blood on his shoes was a proof of his guilt.他鞋子上的血迹就是他犯罪的证据。
Miss Ada has just sent me the proofs of her new book.埃达小姐刚把她新书的校样送给我。
The liquor is 70% proof.这种酒为标准度数的70%。
Is life on the Mars capable of proof?火星有生命的说法可以验证吗?

［同义词］   demonstration, evidence, test, trial
［词源］＜古法语preuve(验证)