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   test

   /tɛst/

   noun

   • 1. a procedure intended to establish the quality, performance, or reliability of something, especially before it is taken into widespread use: "both countries carried out nuclear tests in May" Similar trialexperimentpilot studytry-outcheckexaminationassessmentevaluationappraisalinvestigationinspectionanalysisscrutinyscrutinizationstudyprobeexplorationscreeningauditionscreen testtechnical:assay
   • ▪ a short written or spoken examination of a person's proficiency or knowledge: "a spelling test" Similar examexaminationpaperset of questionsquiz
   • ▪ an event or situation that reveals the strength or quality of someone or something by putting them under strain: "this is the first serious test of the peace agreement"
   • ▪ an examination of part of the body or a body fluid for medical purposes, especially by means of a chemical or mechanical procedure rather than simple inspection: "researchers developed a test for the virus"
   • ▪ a procedure employed to identify a substance or to reveal the presence or absence of a constituent within a substance.
   • ▪ the result of a medical examination or analytical procedure: "a positive test for protein"
   • ▪ a means of establishing whether an action, item, or situation is an instance of a specified quality, especially one held to be undesirable: "a statutory test of obscenity" Similar criterionproofindicationyardsticktouchstonestandardmeasurelitmus testbarometer
   • 2. short for Test match
   • 3. a movable hearth in a reverberating furnace, used for separating gold or silver from lead.

   verb

   • 1. take measures to check the quality, performance, or reliability of (something), especially before putting it into widespread use or practice: "this range has not been tested on animals" Similar try outtrialcarry out trials onput to the testput through its pacesexperiment withpilotcheckexamineassessevaluateappraiseinvestigateanalysescrutinizestudyprobeexploresamplescreentechnical:assay
   • ▪ give (someone) a short written or oral examination of their proficiency or knowledge: "all children are tested at eleven"
   • ▪ judge or measure (someone's proficiency or knowledge) by means of a test: "the exam will test accuracy and neatness"
   • ▪ reveal the strengths or capabilities of (someone or something) by putting them under strain: "such behaviour would severely test any marriage" Similar put a strain onstraintaxtrymake demands onstretchdrainsapchallenge
   • ▪ carry out a medical test on (a person, a part of the body, or a body fluid): "he's been tested for drugs"
   • ▪ produce a specified result in a medical test, especially a drugs test or AIDS test: "he tested positive for steroids during the race"
   • ▪ examine (a substance) by means of a reagent.
   • ▪ touch or taste (something) to check that it is acceptable before proceeding further: "she tested the water with the tip of her elbow"

   Word Origin late Middle English (denoting a cupel used to treat gold or silver alloys or ore): via Old French from Latin testu, testum ‘earthen pot’, variant of testa ‘jug, shell’. Compare with test2. The verb dates from the early 17th century.

   Derivatives

   • 1. testability noun
   • 2. testee noun

   Scrabble Points: 4

   • T

     1

   • E

     1

   • S

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   • T

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