I. ˈtest noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, vessel in which metals were assayed, cupel, from Middle French, from Latin testum earthen vessel; akin to Latin testa piece of burned clay, earthen pot, shell, Avestan tashta cup, Latin texere to construct, weave — more at technical
1.
a. chiefly Britain : cupel
b.
(1) : an act or process that reveals inherent qualities (as of character) : trial
needs to put his thinking to the test of research experience — Journal of Social Studies
a fiberless man disintegrating before test — Leslie Rees
(2) : the procedure of submitting an empirical statement to observational or experimental conditions designed either to negate or confirm it
(3) : the procedure of submitting an analytical statement to such either generally recognized or specifically stipulated operations as will either prove or disprove it — compare proof
(4) : something that serves as a basis for evaluation : criterion , touchstone
insisted that the correct test of any social system … was the type of man it tended to produce — H.D.Gideonse
the best test of a travel book is a place the reader has also been — Gerald Sykes
c. : an ordeal or oath required as proof of conformity with a set of beliefs
no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States — U.S. Constitution
2.
a. : a procedure or reaction used to identify or characterize a substance or constituent
the iodine test for starch
— compare assay I 1d(1)
b. : the reagent used in such a test
c. : a positive result obtained in such a test
d. : a procedure for determining the performance characteristics (as of a product or machine)
abrasion test
shakedown test
e. : a diagnostic procedure for determining the nature of a condition or disease or for revealing a change in a function
eye test
f. : an instance or result of testing: as
(1) : test match
(2) : an oil well drilled to test the possibilities of an undeveloped area
(3) : audition , screen test
(4) : minimum tensile strength as determined by test
a fishing line of 20 pound test
3.
a. : a technique for measuring objectively an individual's personal characteristics, potentialities, or accomplishments especially by comparing his behavior in response to standard stimuli or situations with the behavior of others against whom the particular technique is said to have been standardized — compare battery 7a(1), intelligence test , inventory 5, scale VII 8
b. : an examination to determine factual knowledge or mental proficiency especially given to students during the course of a school term and covering a limited part of the year's work — compare achievement test
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1.
a. chiefly Britain : to subject (as gold or silver) to cupellation : assay
b. : to put to the proof : try , validate
a strategy of restraint would … test the patience and self-control of Americans — H.W.Baldwin
the constant testing of hypotheses by empirical data — American Polit. Sci. Review
test a court ruling by appeal to a higher court
— often used with out
test out a formula
c. : to require a doctrinal oath of
you shall not test or examine any prophet who speaks in the spirit — E.J.Goodspeed
2.
a. : to examine or analyze (a substance) by the use of a reagent
test a solution with litmus paper
especially : to examine for the presence of a substance
test a salt for calcium
b. : to determine the attributes or performance characteristics of
enough samples must be tested to show how the product performs — Mech. Engineering
c. : to examine for disease or physical defect
test a tumor
test the reflexes
3. : to explore the aptitudes, attitudes, knowledge, or skills of (as a student or a job applicant) by means of tests
they have been trade tested by the adjutant, who … interviewed each — H.H.Arnold & I.C.Eaker
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to undergo a test
actors … best suited to the roles for which they tested — Christian Herald
the great turboprop … was still testing — Newsweek
b. : to achieve a rating on the basis of tests
the eyesight of different peoples may test the same — Ruth Benedict
this same group when seniors … tested to a median of 70 — Angell Mathewson
2. : to apply a test as a means of analysis or diagnosis — used with for
use colored blocks to test for mechanical aptitude
use the scratch technique in testing for allergies
Synonyms: see prove
III. adjective
1. : of, relating to, or constituting a trial, proof, or criterion
2.
a. : subjected to, used for, or revealed by testing
test group
summaries of test data
twelve medium-sized, geographically scattered test cities are trying to discover ways of coordinating and expanding adult education — F.M.Hechinger
b. : employed in determining attributes or performance characteristics (as of a product or machine)
test dive
test apparatus
questions … carefully prepared and given a test run with a selected guinea-pig group — R.D.Haun & Leo Herbert
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin testis — more at testament
1. obsolete : evidence , witness
2. Scotland : will , testament
V. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin testari, from testis witness
intransitive verb
Scotland : to make a will
transitive verb
1. archaic : to date and sign (as a writ) : attest
2. Scotland : to bear witness to : authenticate
VI. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Latin testa shell — more at test (trial)
: the external shell or other hard or firm covering of many invertebrates (as foraminiferans, mollusks, many echinoderms, and crustaceans) ; especially : the thick outer covering of the body of a tunicate secreted by the mantle but containing cells which have emigrated into it, varying in consistency in different forms from leathery or cartilaginous to soft and gelatinous, and in compound ascidians usually forming a solid mass in which the zooids are embedded
VII. abbreviation
1. testament; testamentary
2. testator
VIII. verb
also test the water
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- test the waters