Definition of 'assay'

Word Frequency

assay

(æseɪ )

Word forms: plural assays

countable noun

An assay is a test of a substance to find out what chemicals it contains. It is usually carried out to find out how pure a substance is.

[technical]

Synonyms: analysis, test, trial, investigation More Synonyms of assay

More Synonyms of assay

Word Frequency

assay in British

verb (əˈseɪ )

to subject (a substance, such as silver or gold) to chemical analysis, as in the determination of the amount of impurity

2. (transitive)

to attempt (something or to do something)

3. (tr; may take a clause as object)

to test, analyse, or evaluate

to assay the significance of early childhood experience

noun (əˈseɪ , ˈæseɪ )

an analysis, esp a determination of the amount of metal in an ore or the amounts of impurities in a precious metal

(as modifier)

an assay office

a substance undergoing an analysis

a written report on the results of an analysis

a test

8. archaic

an attempt

Derived forms

assayable (asˈsayable)

adjective

assayer (asˈsayer)

noun

Word origin of 'assay'

C14: from Old Northern French assai; see essay

Word Frequency

assay in American

(ˈæseɪ ; asˈā; æˈseɪ ; asāˈ; for v. æˈseɪ ; asāˈ; əseɪ ; əsā)

noun

an examination or testing

the analysis of an ore, alloy, drug, etc. to determine the nature, proportion, or purity of the ingredients

a substance to be thus tested or analyzed

the result or report of such an analysis

5. Rare

an attempt

verb transitive

to make an assay of; test; analyze

to attempt

verb intransitive US

to be shown by analysis to contain a specified proportion of some component

this ore assays high in gold

Derived forms

assayer (asˈsayer)

noun

Word origin of 'assay'

ME & Anglo-Fr assai < OFr essai, trial: see essay, n.

Example sentences containing 'assay'

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A slight chance, a negligible chance, but one he dared not fail to assay. Robert Silverberg VALENTINE PONTIFEX (2001)

Trends of 'assay'

In Common Usage. assay is one of the 10000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

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Nearby words of 'assay'

Related Terms of 'assay'

Source

Definition of assay from the Collins English Dictionary

Phrasal verbs

A phrasal verb is a type of verb that is created when a main verb is combined with either: an adverb, take off give in blow up break in a preposition, get at (someone) pick on (weaker ch...