Etimology
From Middle English test, teste, from Old French test, teste (“an earthen vessel, especially a pot in which metals were tried”), from Latin testum (“the lid of an earthen vessel, an earthen vessel, an earthen pot”), from *terstus, past participle of the root *tersa (“dry land”). See terra, thirst. The examination sense came via metaphor of the metallurgical sense - the way a metallurgist puts to the test his gold, a teacher may put to the test her students' knowledge.
noun
test (plural tests)
A challenge, trial.
A cupel or cupelling hearth in which precious metals are melted for trial and refinement.
(academia) An examination, given often during the academic term.
A session in which a product, piece of equipment, or system is examined under everyday or extreme conditions to evaluate its durability, etc.
(cricket, normally "Test") A Test match.
(marine biology) The external calciferous shell, or endoskeleton, of an echinoderm, e.g. sand dollars and sea urchins.Two sea urchin tests
(botany) Testa; seed coat.
(obsolete) Judgment; distinction; discrimination.
Examples
Numerous experimental tests and other observations have been offered in favor of animal mind reading, and although many scientists are skeptical, others assert that humans are not the only species capable of representing what others do and don’t perceive and know.
It's Christmas at ground zero / The button has been pressed / The radio / Just let us know / That this is not a test
Who would excel, when few can make a test / Betwixt indifferent writing and the best?
Related words
synonyms
(challenge, trial): See Thesaurus:test
(academics: examination): examination, quiz
antonyms
(antonym(s) of "academics: examination"): recess
hyponyms
acid test
babysitter test
blood test
duck test
field test
flame test
inkblot test
litmus test
Martindale rub test
Martindale test
multiple-choice test
nose test
Rorschach test
single-choice test
smell test
smoke test
sniff test
soap test
software test
spin prime test
static test
stress test
verb
test (third-person singular simple present tests, present participle testing, simple past and past participle tested)
To challenge, to put a strain on (something).
To refine (gold, silver, etc.) in a test or cupel; to subject to cupellation.
To put to the proof; to prove the truth, genuineness, or quality of by experiment, or by some principle or standard; to try.
(academics) To administer or assign an examination, often given during the academic term, to (somebody).
To place a product or piece of equipment under everyday and/or extreme conditions and examine it for its durability, etc.
(copulative) To be shown to be by test.
(chemistry) To examine or try, as by the use of some reagent.
(intransitive, transitive, slang) To challenge (someone) to a fight.
Examples
Climbing the mountain tested our stamina.
to test the soundness of a principle
to test the validity of an argument
Experience is the surest standard by which to test the real tendency of the existing constitution.
Similar studies of rats have employed four different intracranial resorbable, slow sustained release systems– […]. Such a slow-release device containing angiogenic factors could be placed on the pia mater covering the cerebral cortex and tested in persons with senile dementia in long term studies.
He tested positive for cancer.
It is probable that children who test above 180 IQ are actually present in our juvenile population in greater frequency than at the rate of one in a million.
to test a solution by litmus paper
Back then, you couldn't rock any type of jewelry just like that, because someone was going to test you or rob you. If you were wearing a chain, you had to be someone who was known for shooting or cutting or knocking dudes the fuck out. And someone who didn’t know you may still try and test, so you couldn't really rely on your rep to save you every time.
I'm feelin' special, I might fly her out to LA, yeah / I got my weapon, it turn violent if you test me, yeah
Etimology
From Middle English teste, from Old French teste, test and Latin testis (“one who attests, a witness”).
noun
test (plural tests)
(obsolete) A witness.
Examples
Prelates and great lords of England, who were for the more surety tests of that deed.
verb
test (third-person singular simple present tests, present participle testing, simple past and past participle tested)
(obsolete, transitive) To attest (a document) legally, and date it.
(obsolete, intransitive) To make a testament, or will.
Related words
related terms
attest
contest
detest
protest
Etimology
Clipping of testosterone.
noun
test (uncountable)
(informal, slang, body building) testosterone