13 PHRASE If you say that something will stand the test of time , you mean that it is strong or effective enough to last for a very long time. □ It says a lot for her culinary skills that so many of her recipes have stood the test of time.
14 to test the waters → see water SYNONYMS test VERB 1
check: It's worth checking each item for obvious flaws.
try out: London Transport hopes to try out the system in September.
assess: It would be a matter of assessing whether she was well enough to travel. NOUN 2
triaclass="underline" They have been treated with this drug in clinical trials.
check: He is being constantly monitored with regular checks on his blood pressure.
assessment: Heggie was sent to a psychiatric hospital for an assessment.
experiment: …a proposed new law on animal experiments.
tes|ta|ment /te stəmənt/ (testaments )
1 N‑VAR If one thing is a testament to another, it shows that the other thing exists or is true. [FORMAL ] □ [+ to ] Braka's house, just off Sloane Square, is a testament to his Gothic tastes.
2 PHRASE [usu with poss] Someone's last will and testament is the most recent will that they have made, especially the last will that they make before they die. [LEGAL ]
3 → see also New Testament , Old Testament
te st bed (test beds ) N‑COUNT A test bed is a piece of equipment used for testing new machines.
te st ca se (test cases ) N‑COUNT A test case is a legal case which becomes an example for deciding other similar cases.
test|er /te stə r / (testers )
1 N‑COUNT A tester is a person who has been asked to test a particular thing.
2 N‑COUNT [usu n N ] A tester is a machine or device that you use to test whether another machine or device is working properly. □ I have a battery tester in my garage.
tes|ti|cle /te st I k ə l/ (testicles ) N‑COUNT A man's testicles are the two sex glands between his legs that produce sperm.
tes|ticu|lar /test I kjʊlə r / ADJ [ADJ n] Testicular means relating to or involving the testicles. □ …testicular cancer.
tes|ti|fy /te st I fa I / (testifies , testifying , testified )
1 VERB When someone testifies in a court of law, they give a statement of what they saw someone do or what they know of a situation, after having promised to tell the truth. □ [V that] Several eyewitnesses testified that they saw him run from the scene. □ [V + to ] Eva testified to having seen Herndon with his gun on the stairs. □ [V + against/for/about ] He hopes to have his 12-year prison term reduced by testifying against his former colleagues. [Also V ]
2 VERB If one thing testifies to another, it supports the belief that the second thing is true. [FORMAL ] □ [V + to ] Recent excavations testify to the presence of cultivated inhabitants on the hill during the Arthurian period.
tes|ti|mo|nial /te st I moʊ niəl/ (testimonials )
1 N‑COUNT A testimonial is a written statement about a person's character and abilities, often written by their employer. □ [+ to ] Her employer could provide testimonials to her character and ability.
2 N‑COUNT A testimonial is a sports match which is specially arranged so that part of the profit from the tickets sold can be given to a particular player or to a particular player's family.
tes|ti|mo|ny /te st I məni, [AM ] -moʊni/ (testimonies )
1 N‑VAR [oft poss N ] In a court of law, someone's testimony is a formal statement that they make about what they saw someone do or what they know of a situation, after having promised to tell the truth. □ His testimony was an important element of the Prosecution case.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N ] If you say that one thing is testimony to another, you mean that it shows clearly that the second thing has a particular quality. □ [+ to ] This book is testimony to a very individual kind of courage.
test|ing ◆◇◇ /te st I ŋ/
1 ADJ A testing problem or situation is very difficult to deal with and shows a lot about the character of the person who is dealing with it. □ The most testing time is undoubtedly in the early months of your return to work.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Testing is the activity of testing something or someone in order to find out information. □ The National Collegiate Athletic Association introduced drug testing in the mid-1980s.
tes|tis /te st I s/ (testes /te stiːz/) N‑COUNT [usu pl] A man's testes are his testicles . [MEDICAL ]
te st match (test matches ) N‑COUNT In cricket and rugby, a test match is a one of a series of matches played between teams representing two countries. [BRIT ]
tes|tos|ter|one /testɒ stəroʊn/ N‑UNCOUNT Testosterone is a hormone found in men and male animals, which can also be produced artificially. It is thought to be responsible for the male sexual instinct and other male characteristics.
te st pi|lot (test pilots ) N‑COUNT A test pilot is a pilot who flies aircraft of a new design in order to test their performance.
te st ru n (test runs ) N‑COUNT If you give a machine or system a test run , you try it out to see if it will work properly when it is actually in use.
te st tube (test tubes ) also test-tube N‑COUNT A test tube is a small tube-shaped container made from glass. Test tubes are used in laboratories.