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assay
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As a noun, assay means trial, attempt. As a verb, it means attempt (something).
Meanings of assay
19 meaningsnoun
Trial, attempt.
Examination and determination; test.
The qualitative or quantitative chemical analysis of something.
Trial by danger or by affliction; adventure; risk; hardship; state of being tried.
Tested purity or value.
The act or process of ascertaining the proportion of a particular metal in an ore or alloy; especially, the determination of the proportion of gold or silver in bullion or coin.
The alloy or metal to be assayed.
An appraisal of the state of affairs
“they made an assay of the contents”
“a check on its dependability under stress”
Similar: checkA substance that is undergoing an analysis of its components
A written report of the results of an analysis of the composition of some substance
A quantitative or qualitative test of a substance (especially an ore or a drug) to determine its components; frequently used to test for the presence or concentration of infectious agents or antibodies etc.
verb
To attempt (something).
To analyze or estimate the composition or value of (a metal, ore etc.).
To affect.
To try tasting, as food or drink.
Analyze (chemical substances)
Older and rare meanings (2)
archaicTo try, attempt (to do something).
obsoleteTo test the abilities of (someone) in combat; to fight.
Meanings from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).