I. quiz 1 /kwɪz/ BrE AmE noun ( plural quizzes ) [countable]
1 . a competition or game in which people have to answer questions:
a love quiz in a magazine
a general knowledge quiz
quiz show especially British English :
I get fed up with television quiz shows.
quiz night British English :
a quiz night held in the local pub
2 . American English a short test that a teacher gives to a class:
a biology quiz
⇨ ↑ pop quiz
II. quiz 2 BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle quizzed , present participle quizzing ) [transitive]
[ Date: 1800-1900 ; Origin: quiz 'to look at closely' (18-19 centuries) , probably influenced by inquisitive ]
to ask someone a lot of questions SYN question
quiz somebody about something
Four men have been quizzed about the murder, but no one has yet been charged.
quiz somebody on/over something
They quizzed me on my involvement in the scheme.