test Definition

test¹
noun

1. A critical examination or trial of a person's or thing's qualities or abilities, etc.

Thesaurus: examination, evaluation, assessment, analysis, trial, try-out, check, moment of truth, hurdle.
2. Anything used as the basis of such an examination or trial, eg a set of questions or exercises.
3. A short minor examination, usually a written one.

Example: a spelling test
4. sport.
A test match.
Example: lost the first test against Sri Lanka
5. chem.
Anything used to distinguish, detect or identify a substance; a reagent.

verb tested, testing

1. To examine someone or something especially by trial.

Thesaurus: assess, check, examine, analyse, investigate, verify, prove, screen.
tr & intr
2. To examine (a substance) to discover whether another substance is present or not.

Example: test the water for microbes
intr
3. To achieve a stated result in a test.

Example: tested negative for the virus

Derivative: testable
adj

Etymology: 16c in sense 1; 14c meaning ‘a vessel used in assaying': from French, from Latin testum earthenware pot.

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test²
noun

1. biol.
A hard outer covering or shell of certain invertebrates.

Etymology: 19c: from Latin testa tile.