test */*/*/

I UK [test] / US noun [countable]
Word forms "test":
singular test plural tests

1)

a) a set of written or spoken questions used for finding out how much someone knows about a subject. A test is less formal than an exam

Did you get a good mark in your physics test?

a chemistry/French/history test

pass/fail a test:

I know I'm going to fail this test.

do/take/sit a test:

You're going to have to take the test again.

b) a series of actions that someone must perform to show how well they can do a particular activity

I'm still too young to take my driving test.

For the cookery test we have to make a chocolate mousse.

2) an examination of a part of your body or of a substance taken from your body

an eye/hearing test

test for:

a test for HIV/cancer

run a test (= perform one):

We'll run a few blood tests.

test results:

Your test results are fine.

3)

a) a process designed to find out whether something such as a machine or weapon works correctly or whether a product is satisfactory

nuclear tests in the Pacific

conduct/perform a test:

Trading Standards officers conducted tests on more than 220 electric blankets.

b) a process designed to find out whether a particular substance is present in another substance

test for:

The tests for dioxin showed high levels were present.

4) a difficult situation that shows what qualities someone or something has

test of:

These elections are seen as a test of party strength.

test of:

Last week's game was a stern test of our character.

5) British informal a test match

•

put someone/something to the test — to find out how good or how effective someone or something is

The project is designed to put your skills to the test.

- stand the test of time

II UK [test] / US verb
Word forms "test":
present tense I/you/we/they test he/she/it tests present participle testing past tense tested past participle tested

1) [transitive] to find out how much someone knows, or how well they can do something by giving them a set of questions to answer or an activity to perform

The aim of the examination is to test your writing skills.

test someone on something:

You won't be tested on anything that you haven't already studied.

2)

a) [transitive] to examine someone's body to check that it is in good condition, or to find out if they have a particular illness

Debbie has to have her eyes tested.

test someone for something:

She was tested for cancer.

b) [intransitive] to produce a particular result after taking a medical test

test negative/positive (for something):

He tested negative for HIV.

3) test or test out

[transitive] to try using something such as a machine or a product to find out whether it works correctly or is satisfactory

The new product was tested in 1998 and launched in 1999.

The theory will be tested by computer simulation.

test something on something:

a skin-care system that isn't tested on animals

See:

tried II

4) [transitive] to examine something to find out if it is satisfactory, or if it has a particular quality

Test the potatoes to see if they're cooked.

test something for something:

How do you test a melon for ripeness?

5) [transitive] to show how good or effective someone or something is by putting pressure on them

Political loyalties could be severely tested by these demonstrations.

•

test the water(s) — to try to find out what people think about something in order to decide whether or not to do it

We were testing the waters about this new magazine we wanted to launch.

Phrasal verbs:

- test out