assay

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a test of the quality or composition of a substance, especially an ore or metal

   The assay confirmed that the nugget was nearly pure gold.

From Old French assai, essai ('trial, attempt'), from Late Latin exagium ('a weighing'), from Latin exigere ('to weigh, examine'), from ex- ('out') + agere ('to drive, do').

Topics