assay

[ verb a-sey; noun as-ey, a-sey ]

verb (used with object)

1. to examine or analyze:

   to assay a situation; to assay an event.

2. Metallurgy. to analyze (an ore, alloy, etc.) in order to determine the quantity of gold, silver, or other metal in it.
3. Pharmacology. to subject (a drug) to an analysis for the determination of its potency or composition.
4. to judge the quality of; assess; evaluate:

   to assay someone's efforts.

5. to try or test; put to trial:

   to assay one's strength; to assay one's debating abilities.

6. to attempt; try; essay:

   to assay a dance step.

verb (used without object)

1. to contain, as shown by analysis, a certain proportion of usually precious metal.

noun

1. Metallurgy. determination of the amount of metal, especially gold or silver, in an ore, alloy, etc.
2. a substance undergoing analysis or trial.
3. a detailed report of the findings in assaying a substance.
4. Archaic. examination; trial; attempt; essay.

assay

verb

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

noun

1. 1. an analysis, esp a determination of the amount of metal in an ore or the amounts of impurities in a precious metal
   2. ( as modifier )

      an assay office

2. a substance undergoing an analysis
3. a written report on the results of an analysis
4. a test
5. archaic.
   an attempt

assay

/ ăs′ā,ə-sā′ /

1. A quantitative determination of the amount of a given substance in a particular sample. Assays are regularly used to determine the purity of precious metals. They can be performed by wet methods or dry methods. In the wet method, the sample is dissolved in a reagent, like an acid, until the purified metal is separated out. In the dry method, the sample is mixed with a flux (a substance such as borax or silica that helps lower the melting temperature) and then the sample is heated to the point where impurities in the metal fuse with the flux, leaving the purified metal as a residue.
2. A bioassay.

Derived Forms

• asˈsayable, adjective
• asˈsayer, noun

Other Words From

• as·saya·ble adjective
• as·sayer noun
• unas·sayed adjective
• unas·saying adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of assay¹

1250–1300; Middle English < Middle French; variant of essay

Word History and Origins

Origin of assay¹

C14: from Old Northern French assai; see essay

Example Sentences

Obama did authorize sending kits for a diagnostic Ebola test called the EZ1 Real-Time RT-PCR Assay.

From The Daily Beast

But the next afternoon, and perhaps the next, we would return to the same cruxes, and often assay the same options.

From The Daily Beast

Twenty baskets of it were obtained by the said miners to assay and investigate its nature, and determine what it might be.

From Project Gutenberg

On being fused with twenty-three libras of lead, nothing was obtained from the said assay.

From Project Gutenberg

Thence were taken fifteen baskets of gravel and dirt, which has the color of coal, in order to assay it.

From Project Gutenberg

Cash looked up from studying the last assay report of the Burro Lode, and his look was not pleasant.

From Project Gutenberg

Now would I liefer keep within compass according to my smaller conditions than assay to rival the success 194 of my kinsman Knut.

From Project Gutenberg