test 1  (t?st)n.1. A procedure for critical evaluation; a means of determining the presence, quality, or truth of something; a trial: a test of one’s eyesight; subjecting a hypothesis to a test; a test of an athlete’s endurance.2. A series of questions, problems, or physical responses designed to determine knowledge, intelligence, or ability.3. A basis for evaluation or judgment: “A test of democratic government is how Congress and the president work together” (Haynes Johnson).4. Chemistry A physical or chemical change by which a substance may be detected or its properties ascertained.5. A cupel.v. test·ed, test·ing, tests v.tr.1. To subject to a test; try: tested the pen by scribbling on scrap paper; testing job applicants.2. To reveal the degree of (a given quality) in someone or something by or as if by means of a test: The experiment tested the rats’ ability to solve spatial problems. The long war tested the country’s resolve.3. a. To identify the presence or amount of one or more substances in: tested the water for lead.b. To identify the amount of (a substance) in something: tested the nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil.c. To ascertain the properties of: tested the steel for hardness and tensile strength.d. To assay (metal) in a cupel.v.intr.1. To undergo a test.2. To administer a test: test for acid content; test for the presence of an antibody.3. To achieve a score or rating on tests: tested high on the entrance exams.4. To exhibit a given characteristic when subjected to a test: test positive for the tubercle bacillus.[Middle English, cupel, from Old French, pot, from Latin test?, testum.]test?a·bil?i·ty n.test?a·ble adj.test 2  (t?st)n. A hard external covering, as that of certain amoebas, dinoflagellates, and sea urchins.[Latin testa, shell.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.test (t?st) vb1. to ascertain (the worth, capability, or endurance) of (a person or thing) by subjection to certain examinations; try2. (Chemistry) (often foll by for) to carry out an examination on (a substance, material, or system) by applying some chemical or physical procedure designed to indicate the presence of a substance or the possession of a property: to test food for arsenic; to test for magnetization. 3. (intr) to achieve a specified result in a test: a quarter of the patients at the clinic tested positive for the AIDS virus. 4. (tr) to put under severe strain: the long delay tested my patience. 5. test the water to make an exploratory or initial approach; sound outn6. a method, practice, or examination designed to test a person or thing7. (Education) a series of questions or problems designed to test a specific skill or knowledge: an intelligence test. 8. a standard of judgment; criterion9. (Chemistry) a. a chemical reaction or physical procedure for testing a substance, material, etcb. a chemical reagent used in such a procedure: litmus is a test for acids. c. the result of the procedure or the evidence gained from it: the test for alcohol was positive. 10. (General Sporting Terms) sport See test match11. archaic a declaration or confirmation of truth, loyalty, etc; oath12. (modifier) performed as a test: test drive; test flight. [C14 (in the sense: vessel used in treating metals): from Latin testum earthen vessel] ?testable adj ?testa?bility n ?testing adjtest (t?st) n1. (Zoology) the hard or tough outer covering of certain invertebrates and tunicates2. (Botany) a variant of testa[C19: from Latin testa shell]Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014test1 (t?st) n. 1. the means by which the presence, quality, or genuineness of anything is determined: a test of a new product. 2. the trial of the quality of something: to put to the test. 3. a particular process or method for trying or assessing. 4. a set of problems, questions, etc., for evaluating abilities or performance. 5. a. a reaction used to identify or detect the presence of a chemical constituent. b. an indication obtained by means of such reactions. 6. an oath or other confirmation of one’s loyalty, religious beliefs, etc. v.t. 7. to subject to a test of any kind. v.i. 8. to undergo a test or trial. 9. to perform on a test: People test better in a relaxed environment. 10. to conduct a test: to test for diabetes. [1350?1400; Middle English: cupel (See also CRITERION.)baptism of fire See INITIATION.go through fire and water See DESIRE.have one?s work cut out See DIFFICULTY.ordeal by fire A severe test of character; a very distressing situation. In ancient Britain, an ordeal was a type of trial in which divine intervention was considered the only proof of a suspect?s innocence. These ordeals took many brutal forms, ranging from having one?s arm immersed in boiling water to being bound and tossed into an icy river. In both cases, an unscathed survivor was proclaimed innocent. The harshest ordeals, however, involved fire. The accused was forced either to grasp a red-hot iron in his hand or to walk barefooted through sizzling rocks and embers. Again, a suspect who emerged uninjured was considered guiltless. Although these cruel trials were abolished shortly after the Norman conquest of Britain, the expression has retained its meaning of an exceedingly agonizing experience undergone to test one?s worth.put through one?s facings To require another to exhibit his skill for purposes of scrutiny; to make a person perform to the utmost of his capabilities. Literal facings are military maneuvers.Grace, not at all unwillingly, was put through her facings. (Anthony Trollope, The Last Chronicle of Barset, 1867)The expression usually carries connotations of being badgered or harassed, as in the following bit of doggerel by F. Egerton.We were scarcely wed a week When she put me through my facings.And walloped me?and worse; She said I did not want a wife, I ought to have had a nurse.put through one?s paces To require another to display the full range of his abilities; to test another?s resources to the utmost. Paces here refers to the training steps or gaits of horses. The equestrian phrase was first extended to persons called upon to perform at their maximum potential, and subsequently to inanimate objects as well.The captain affirmed that the ship would show us in time all her paces. (Ralph Waldo Emerson, English Traits, 1856)The test pilots ? put the new planes through their paces. (H. H. Arnold and I. C. Eaker, cited in Webster?s Third)take the measure of To judge the character of, to size up, to ascertain the good and bad points. Measure in this expression refers literally to the dimensions of a body, information necessary to a tailor who needs exact ?measurements? to fit someone for clothes. Figuratively the term refers not to size, but to character.Our hostess ? bustled off ? to take the measure of the new-comer. (Sir A. Conan Doyle, Micah Clarke, 1889)Even further removed from the literal use is the application of this expression to organizations or institutions.The people have taken the measure of this whole labor movement. {Nations, January 5, 1893)If you prove that something is true or correct, you provide evidence showing that it is definitely true or correct.When you use a practical method to try to find out how good or bad someone or something is, don’t say that you ‘prove’ them. Say that you test them.A test is a series of questions that you answer to show how much you know about a subject. You say that someone takes or does this type of test.A test is also a series of actions that you do to show how well you are able to do something. You say that someone takes a test of this kind.Be Careful!Don’t use ‘make’ with test. Don’t say, for example, ‘She’s not yet made her driving test’.If someone is successful in a test of either kind, you say that they pass it.Be Careful!To pass a test always means to succeed in it. It does not have the same meaning as take or do.If someone is unsuccessful in a test, you say that they fail it.