Search results for 'test':

test¹ noun 1 a critical examination or trial of a person's or thing's qualities or abilities, etc. 2 anything used as the basis of such an examination or trial, eg a set of questions or exercises. 3 a short minor examination, usually a written one • a spelling test. 4 sport a test match • lost the first test against Sri Lanka. 5 chem anything used to distinguish, detect or identify a substance; a reagent. verb (tested, testing) 1 to examine someone or something especially by trial. 2 tr & intr to examine (a substance) to discover whether another substance is present or not • test the water for microbes. 3 intrans to achieve a stated result in a test • tested negative for the virus. testable adj.
ETYMOLOGY: 16c in sense 1; 14c meaning 'a vessel used in assaying': from French, from Latin testum earthenware pot.

test² noun, biol a hard outer covering or shell of certain invertebrates.
ETYMOLOGY: 19c: from Latin testa tile.