Assay Definition

ăsā, ă-sā
assayed, assaying, assays
noun
assays
Qualitative or quantitative analysis of a metal or ore to determine its components.
American Heritage
An examination or testing.
Webster's New World
A substance to be so analyzed.
American Heritage
The analysis of an ore, alloy, drug, etc. to determine the nature, proportion, or purity of the ingredients.
Webster's New World
The result of such an analysis.
American Heritage
verb
assayed, assaying, assays
To subject (a metal, for example) to chemical analysis so as to determine the strength or quality of its components.
American Heritage
To make an assay of; test; analyze.
Webster's New World
To be shown by analysis to contain a specified proportion of some component.
This ore assays high in gold.
Webster's New World
To bioassay.
American Heritage
To attempt.
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Assay

Noun

Singular:
assay
Plural:
assays

Origin of Assay

  • From Anglo-Norman assaier, from assai, from Old French essai.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English from Old French essai, assai essay

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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