| assay | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to subject (a substance, such as silver or gold) to chemical analysis, as in the determination of the amount of impurity |
| 2. | (tr) 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 |
| —n | |
| 4. | a. an analysis, esp a determination of the amount of metal in an ore or the amounts of impurities in a precious metal |
| b. (as modifier): an assay office | |
| 5. | a substance undergoing an analysis |
| 6. | a written report on the results of an analysis |
| 7. | a test |
| 8. | archaic an attempt |
| [C14: from Old Northern French assai; see | |
| as'sayable | |
| —adj | |
| as'sayer | |
| —n | |
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
Dictionary.com presents 366 FAQs, incorporating some of the frequently asked questions from the past with newer queries.