test

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the act of validating something

   The test of the machine passed.

2. 2
   noun

   the act of undergoing testing

   We survived the great test of battle and proved our mettle.

3. 3
   noun

   any standardized procedure for measuring sensitivity or memory or intelligence or aptitude or personality in people or living beings

   I took an IQ test to find out just how darn smart I am.

4. 4
   noun

   a hard outer covering as of some amoebas and sea urchins

   The test of the amoeba was found to be very sturdy.

5. 5
   noun

   trying something to find out about it

   We decided to give sushi a test.

6. 6
   noun

   a set of questions or exercises evaluating skill or knowledge, often used in schools or licensing

   I always hated doing math tests in school, but at least I learned long division.

7. 7
   verb

   to undergo a validation of one's skills or abilities

   I tested myself against the worksheet we were given.

8. 8
   verb

   to examine someone's knowledge of something

   The teacher tests us every week.

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 their students' knowledge.