test

test1 [ test ] noun count ***

▸ 1 check of knowledge, etc.

▸ 2 check of body

▸ 3 check of machine

▸ 4 difficult situation

▸ 5 test match in sports

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) 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, and more formal than a quiz.:

Mike did really well on yesterday's test.

Did you get a good grade on your physics test?

a chemistry/French/history test

do/take a test: If you get poor marks you have to take the test again.

pass/fail a test: I know I'm going to fail this test.

a ) 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 cooking 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 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: Consumer Reports conducted tests on more than 220 electric blankets.

a ) 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: Living on the eighth floor is a kind of endurance test, since the elevator never works.

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 effective someone or something is:

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

stand the test of time

to continue to be effective, successful, or popular for a long time:

This movie has stood the test of time.

test

test 2 [ test ] verb ***

▸ 1 check knowledge/ability

▸ 2 check someone's body

▸ 3 show if good/effective

▸ 4 check machine/product

▸ 5 check for quality, etc.

▸ + PHRASES

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. ) 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.

a ) intransitive to produce a particular result after taking a medical test:

test negative/positive (for something): He tested negative for HIV.

3. ) transitive to show how good or effective someone or something is by putting pressure on them:

Religious and political loyalties could be severely tested by these demonstrations.

4. ) test or test out transitive to try using something such as a machine or 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

=> TRIED 2

5. ) 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?

test the water(s)

to try to find out what people think about something in order to decide whether or not to do it