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 her students' knowledge. Displaced Old English afandung.
To refine (gold, silver, etc.) in a test or cupel; to subject to cupellation.
3
To put to the proof; to prove the truth, genuineness, or quality of by experiment, or by some principle or standard; to try.
to test the soundness of a principle
to test the validity of an argument
1 more example
September 17, 1796, George Washington, Farewell Address Experience is the surest standard by which to test the real tendency of the existing constitution.
4
To administer or assign an examination, often given during the academic term, to (somebody).
5
To place a product or piece of equipment under everyday and/or extreme conditions and examine it for its durability, etc.
Similar studies of rats have employed four different intracranial resorbable, slow sustained release systems–[…]. Such a slow-release device containing angiogenic factors could be placed on the pia mater covering the cerebral cortex and tested in persons with senile dementia in long term studies.2013 May-June, Charles T. Ambrose, “Alzheimer’s Disease”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, archived from the original on 24 Apr 2013, page 200:
6
To be shown to be by test.
He tested positive for cancer.
It is probable that children who test above 180 IQ are actually present in our juvenile population in greater frequency than at the rate of one in a million.2015, Leta Stetter Hollingworth, Harry Levi Hollingworth, Children Above 180 IQ Stanford-Binet: Origin and Development:
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Chemistry, Natural sciences, Physical sciences To examine or try, as by the use of some reagent.
Back then, you couldn't rock any type of jewelry just like that, because someone was going to test you or rob you. If you were wearing a chain, you had to be someone who was known for shooting or cutting or knocking dudes the fuck out. And someone who didn’t know you may still try and test, so you couldn't really rely on your rep to save you every time.2018, U-God [Lamont Hawkins], Raw: My Journey Into the Wu-Tang, New York, N.Y.: Picador, →ISBN, page 31:
I'm feelin' special, I might fly her out to LA, yeah / I got my weapon, it turn violent if you test me, yeah2023 November 6, “Guapi” (1:44 from the start)performed by YoungBoy Never Broke Again:
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 her students' knowledge. Displaced Old English afandung.
Numerous experimental tests and other observations have been offered in favor of animal mind reading, and although many scientists are skeptical, others assert that humans are not the only species capable of representing what others do and don’t perceive and know.2012 March-April, Colin Allen, “Do I See What You See?”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, archived from the original on 26 Apr 2012, page 168:
2
Academia, Scholarly, Sciences An examination, given often during the academic term.
3
A session in which a product, piece of equipment, or system is examined under everyday or extreme conditions to evaluate its durability, etc.
It's Christmas at ground zero / The button has been pressed / The radio / Just let us know / That this is not a test1986, "Weird Al" Yankovic, “Christmas at Ground Zero”, in Polka Party!:
4
Human sciences, Psychology, Sciences A standardised measure, consisting of one or more items.
Who would excel, when few can make a test / Betwixt indifferent writing and the best?1675, John Dryden, Aureng-zebe: A Tragedy. […], London: […] T[homas] N[ewcomb] for Henry Herringman, […], published 1676, →OCLC, (please specify the page number):
1523-1525, John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners, Froissart's Chronicles Prelates and great lords of England, who were for the more surety tests of that deed.