the means by which the presence, quality, or genuineness of anything is determined; a means of trial.
the trial of the quality of something:to put to the test.
a particular process or method for trying or assessing.
a set of questions, problems, or the like, used as a means of evaluating the abilities, aptitudes, skills, or performance of an individual or group; examination.
Psychology. a set of standardized questions, problems, or tasks designed to elicit responses for use in measuring the traits, capacities, or achievements of an individual.
Chemistry.
the process of identifying or detecting the presence of a constituent of a substance, or of determining the nature of a substance, commonly by the addition of a reagent.
the reagent used.
an indication or evidence of the presence of a constituent, or of the nature of a substance, obtained by such means.
an oath or other confirmation of one's loyalty, religious beliefs, etc.
British. a cupel for refining or assaying metals.
verb (used with object)
to subject to a test of any kind; try.
Chemistry. to subject to a chemical test.
Metallurgy. to assay or refine in a cupel.
verb (used without object)
to undergo a test or trial; try out.
to perform on a test: People test better in a relaxed environment.
to conduct a test: to test for diabetes.
Origin of test
1
1350–1400; Middle English: cupel <Middle French <Latin testū, testum earthen pot; akin to test2
Notebooks can stand the test of time, and will be there for you when WiFi isn’t.
Notable notebooks for writing and drawing|PopSci Commerce Team|September 17, 2020|Popular Science
In France, for example, 4 percent of tests performed on people age 60 and older are now positive — a doubling from two weeks ago.
The new Covid-19 case surge in Europe, explained|Julia Belluz|September 17, 2020|Vox
Lots of websites online will let you plug your data in to run these tests for free.
Build ice towers with bottled water and ice|Bethany Brookshire|September 16, 2020|Science News For Students
Hindenburg’s report includes a test confirming that the section of road shown in the video could accelerate a coasting vehicle to highway speeds, along with text messages from a former Nikola employee appearing to confirm the tactics.
Nikola, which went public via a SPAC, is accused of deception|Lucinda Shen|September 11, 2020|Fortune
We repeated two different tests and every one of those individuals had a negative follow-up test.
Why Can’t Schools Get What the N.F.L. Has? (Ep. 431)|Stephen J. Dubner|September 10, 2020|Freakonomics
If it was the United States, the operation will test the bounds of international law.
Cyberwar on North Korea Could Be Illegal|Shane Harris|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It took the entire day, but the slow pace indicated that it was probably a test to gauge public reaction.
The Monuments Men of Occupy Hong Kong|Brendon Hong|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Still other media sources are reporting that the DNA test is awaiting results.
The ISIS Wife Swap Mystery|Jacob Siegel|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It should be noted that LA tap water, rather than NYC's famed brand, was chosen for the test.
The Bottled Water Taste Test|The Daily Beast Video|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The 2014 midterms were a test flight for the CounterPAC model.
How to Fight Corruption With Game Theory|Mark McKinnon|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But his courage was at last put to a test of which he had never dreamed.
Strange Stories of Colonial Days|Various
On this account he overcame his slight feeling against Mr. Dare, and put a question to test that gentleman's capacities.
A Laodicean|Thomas Hardy
The test here imagined, that of concealing the eyes, would answer as little in real as in pictured life.
Margaret Fuller (Marchesa Ossoli)|Julia Ward Howe
He could imagine the sort of test Galbraith had put her to before giving her a job at all.
The Real Adventure|Henry Kitchell Webster
(B) Test the lifting power of the little wire magnet by seeing about how many iron filings its poles will raise.
The Study of Elementary Electricity and Magnetism by Experiment|Thomas M. St. John
British Dictionary definitions for test (1 of 2)
test1
/ (tɛst) /
verb
to ascertain (the worth, capability, or endurance) of (a person or thing) by subjection to certain examinations; try
(often foll by for)to carry out an examination on (a substance, material, or system) by applying some chemical or physical procedure designed to indicate the presence of a substance or the possession of a propertyto test food for arsenic; to test for magnetization
(intr)to achieve a specified result in a testa quarter of the patients at the clinic tested positive for the AIDS virus
(tr)to put under severe strainthe long delay tested my patience
test the waterto make an exploratory or initial approach; sound out
noun
a method, practice, or examination designed to test a person or thing
a series of questions or problems designed to test a specific skill or knowledgean intelligence test
a standard of judgment; criterion
a chemical reaction or physical procedure for testing a substance, material, etc
a chemical reagent used in such a procedurelitmus is a test for acids
the result of the procedure or the evidence gained from itthe test for alcohol was positive
sport See test match
archaica declaration or confirmation of truth, loyalty, etc; oath
(modifier)performed as a testtest drive; test flight