# test

/ˈtɛst/ (US) · /tˈɛst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/test
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. school exam

noun · CEFR A1

a set of questions or exercises to check what a student knows.

For teachers: a procedure for critical evaluation; a means of determining the presence, quality, or truth of something, especially in an academic context.

- The teacher said we have a math test next Tuesday morning.
- The final chemistry test proved significantly more difficult than the mid-term, covering organic compounds that many students had failed to review.

### 2. a trial or check

noun · CEFR A2

a process used to see if something works correctly or is true.

For teachers: a trial or examination of the qualities or performance of something under specific conditions.

- The new car underwent a safety test to check the brakes.
- The software underwent a rigorous stress test to ensure the servers could handle thousands of simultaneous users without crashing.

### 3. medical analysis

noun · CEFR B1

a medical check of a part of your body, like a blood test.

For teachers: a medical procedure performed to detect, diagnose, or monitor diseases or other conditions.

- The doctor ordered a blood test to see why I was feeling tired.
- The laboratory results from the diagnostic test confirmed the presence of the antibodies, allowing the physician to proceed with the treatment plan.

### 4. testosterone

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

a short way of saying testosterone, a hormone in the body.

For teachers: an informal clipping of testosterone, frequently used in athletic or medical contexts.

- He was worried that his test levels were too low for his age.
- Bodybuilders often monitor their test levels closely to optimize muscle recovery and overall performance during intensive training cycles.

### 5. to check something

verb · CEFR A2

to use or check something to see if it works or is good.

For teachers: to subject something to a trial or examination to determine its qualities or reliability.

- You should test the water temperature before you get in the bath.
- The engineers will test the structural integrity of the bridge by simulating extreme wind speeds and heavy traffic loads.

### 6. to give an exam

verb · CEFR B1

to give a student or a group a set of questions to answer.

For teachers: to administer an examination to a person or group to evaluate their knowledge or skills.

- The professor will test us on the first three chapters of the book.
- The national curriculum aims to test students not only on rote memorization but also on their ability to apply critical thinking to complex problems.

### 7. to challenge

verb · CEFR B2

to put a strain on someone's skills or patience.

For teachers: to put a strain on a quality or ability; to challenge the limits of something.

- Climbing the mountain really tested his strength and courage.
- The prolonged economic crisis tested the resilience of the local community, forcing many small businesses to adapt or close permanently.

## Examples

- I have a difficult math test tomorrow morning.
- The doctor ordered a blood test to check for any vitamin deficiencies after the patient reported feeling tired.
- The prototype underwent a rigorous stress test to ensure the structural integrity of the fuselage before the aviation authority granted its final safety certification.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.