test

1 /test/ noun (C)

1 EXAM a set of questions, exercises or practical activities to measure someone's skill, ability, or knowledge: spelling/driving/biology etc test: How did you do on your maths test? | pass/fail a test: She passed her driving test when she was 17. | do/take/sit a test (=take part in it): The thought of taking the test terrifies me.

(+ on): We have a test on irregular verbs tomorrow. | test result: When do you get your test results back?

2 MEDICAL

a) a short medical examination on a part of your body, or to find out what is wrong with you: an eye test | run a test (=do one quickly): We'll just run some tests on your blood sample. | test results: I'm still waiting for my test results from the hospital.

b) equipment for carrying out a medical test: a pregnancy test

3 FOR CHECKING STH a process used to find out whether equipment works correctly, or whether something contains a particular substance: nuclear weapons tests | a test for sth (=a test to find sth): a test for chemicals in the water | test site/equipment/procedure: We went to the test site in Nevada.

4 DIFFICULT SITUATION a situation in which the qualities of someone or something are clearly shown: a test of character/strength etc: The problems she faced were a real test of character. | put sb/sth to the test (=find out how good someone or something is): Living together will soon put their relationship to the test.

5 stand the test of time to be good enough, strong enough etc to last for a long time: Our friendship has stood the test of time.

6 STANDARD something that is used as a standard to judge or examine something else: It's difficult to know what's a good test of love.

—see also: test case

7 SPORT BrE the short form of test match

—see also: breath test, means test, smear test 2 verb

1 EXAM (T) to ask someone spoken or written questions, or make them do a practical activity, to find out what they know about a subject: test sb on: We're being tested on grammar tomorrow. | test sth: We'll have to test his knowledge of computers.

2 MEDICAL

a) (T) to give someone a short medical examination on a part of their body, or to find out what is wrong with them: I must have my eyes tested. | test sb for sth: I'm going to test you for diabetes.

b) to get a particular result when a medical test is done on you: He tested positive for HIV.

3 MACHINE/PRODUCT (T) to use something for a short time to see if it works properly: testing nuclear weapons | test sth on sb/sth (=use something on someone or something to test it): None of this range of cosmetics has been tested on animals.

4 FIND OUT (T) to examine something in order to find out something about it: Test the cake to see if it's done. | test sth for sth: testing ore samples for quality

5 BE DIFFICULT (T) to be so difficult that all of someone or something's good qualities will be needed to do it: The next six months will test your powers of leadership.

—see also: testing

6 OIL/GAS (I, T) to search for oil, gas etc by carrying out tests

(+ for): testing for oil

7 test the water to check people's reaction to a plan before you decide to do anything: We'll have to test the water before we ban smoking in the staffroom.

—see also: tried and tested tried 2