assayan analysis of a substance, esp. of an ore or drug: His find required an assay to determine its value.Not to be confused with:essay ? try; subject to a test; a short literary composition: She wrote an essay for her final exam.Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embreeas·say (?s???, ?-s??)n.1. a. Qualitative or quantitative analysis of a metal or ore to determine its components.b. A substance to be so analyzed.c. The result of such an analysis.2. A bioassay.3. An analysis or examination.4. Archaic An attempt; an essay.v. (?-s??, ?s???) as·sayed, as·say·ing, as·says v.tr.1. a. To subject (a metal, for example) to chemical analysis so as to determine the strength or quality of its components.b. To bioassay.2. To examine by trial or experiment; put to a test: assay one’s ability to speak Chinese.3. To evaluate; assess: assayed the situation before taking action.4. To attempt; try: “Singers of every race and nationality have by now assayed the role” (Barry Singer).v.intr. To be shown by analysis to contain a certain proportion of usually precious metal.[Middle English, from Old French essai, assai; see essay.]as·say?a·ble adj.as·say?er n.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.assay vb 1. (Chemistry) to subject (a substance, such as silver or gold) to chemical analysis, as in the determination of the amount of impurity 2. (tr) to attempt (something or to do something) 3. (tr; may take a clause as object) to test, analyse, or evaluate: to assay the significance of early childhood experience. n 4. (Chemistry) a. an analysis, esp a determination of the amount of metal in an ore or the amounts of impurities in a precious metalb. (as modifier): an assay office. 5. (Elements & Compounds) a substance undergoing an analysis 6. (Chemistry) a written report on the results of an analysis 7. a test 8. archaic an attempt [C14: from Old Northern French assai; see essay] as?sayable adj as?sayer nCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014as?say (v. æ?se?; n. ?æs e?, æ?se?) v.t. 1. to examine or analyze: to assay a situation. 2. to analyze (an ore, alloy, etc.) to determine the content of gold, silver, or other metal. 3. to analyze (a drug) to determine potency or composition. 4. to test or evaluate: to assay one’s strength. 5. to attempt; try; essay: to assay a dance step. n. 6. an analysis of the composition or strength of a substance, esp. a determination of the amount of metal in an ore, alloy, etc. 7. a substance undergoing analysis or trial. 8. a detailed report of the findings in assaying a substance. 9. Archaic. examination; trial; attempt. [1250?1300; Middle English