~ 1
■ noun
1》 a procedure intended to establish the quality, performance, or reliability of something.
↘a short examination of a person's skill or knowledge.
↘a difficult situation revealing the strength or quality of someone or something.
↘an examination of part of the body or a body fluid for medical purposes.
↘ Chemistry a procedure employed to identify a substance or to reveal the presence or absence of a constituent within a substance.
2》 a means of ~ing something.
3》 ( Test ) short for Test match .
4》 Metallurgy a movable hearth in a reverberating furnace, used for separating gold or silver from lead.
■ verb subject to a ~.
↘produce a specified result in a medical ~.
↘ Chemistry examine by means of a reagent.
↘touch or taste before proceeding further.
Phrases
~ the water ascertain feelings or opinions before proceeding further.
Derivatives
~ability noun
~able adjective
~ee noun
Origin
ME (denoting a cupel used to treat gold or silver alloys or ore): via OFr. from L. ~u , ~um 'earthen pot', var. of ~a 'jug, shell'; cf. ~ 2 .
————————
~ 2
■ noun Zoology the shell or integument of some invertebrates and protozoans.
Origin
C19: from L. ~a 'tile, jug, shell'; cf. ~ 1 .