test
Forms
- Plural
- tests
- present (v1)
- test
- past (v2)
- tested
- past participle (v3)
- tested
- present participle
- testing
- 3rd person singular
- tests
Definitions
1.A challenge, trial.
- I have to prepare for the test.
- I failed the driving test.
2.The external calciferous shell, or endoskeleton, of an echinoderm, e.g. sand dollars and sea urchins; testa.
- I have to prepare for the test.
- I failed the driving test.
3.A cupel or cupelling hearth in which precious metals are melted for trial and refinement.
- I have to prepare for the test.
- I failed the driving test.
4.Testa; seed coat.
- I have to prepare for the test.
- I failed the driving test.
1.To challenge, to put a strain on (something).
- Climbing the mountain tested our stamina.
2.To put to the proof; to prove the truth, genuineness, or quality of by experiment, or by some principle or standard; to try.
3.To administer or assign an examination, often given during the academic term, to (somebody).
4.To refine (gold, silver, etc.) in a test or cupel; to subject to cupellation.
Frequency
Overall
Common· #627
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Uncommon
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Uncommon
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Etymology
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.