/ ˌdaɪəgˈnɒstɪk; NAmE -ˈnɑːs-/ adjective , noun
■ adjective
[ usually before noun ] ( technical ) connected with identifying sth, especially an illness :
to carry out diagnostic assessments / tests
specific conditions which are diagnostic of AIDS
■ noun ( computing )
1.
(also ˌdiagˈnostic program ) [ C ] a program used for identifying a computer fault
2.
[ C ] a message on a computer screen giving information about a fault
3.
diagˈnostics [ U ] the practice or methods of diagnosis (= finding out what is wrong with a person who is ill / sick)
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WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent.: from Greek diagnōstikos able to distinguish, from diagignōskein distinguish; the noun from hē diagnōstikē tekhnē the art of distinguishing (disease).