assay

US: /v. æˈseɪ; n. ˈæseɪ, æˈseɪ/

US: (v. a sā′; n. as′ā, a sā′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

as•say /v. æˈseɪ; n. ˈæseɪ, æˈseɪ/   v. [~ + object]

1. to examine, analyze, or evaluate:
   to assay a situation.
2. Metallurgy to examine and analyze (an ore, etc.) to determine how pure it is.

n. [countable]

3. Metallurgy an analysis of the parts of a substance, esp. to find out the amount of metal in an ore or alloy, or the amount of a drug in a substance.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

as•say  (v. a sā′;n. as′ā, a sā′), v.t. 

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. Drugs [Pharm.] 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.

v.i. 

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

n. 

8. Metallurgy determination of the amount of metal, esp. gold or silver, in an ore, alloy, etc.
9. a substance undergoing analysis or trial.
10. a detailed report of the findings in assaying a substance.
11. [Archaic.] examination;
    trial;
    attempt;
    essay.

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

as•say′a•ble, adj. 
as•say′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

assay verb / əˈseɪ/

1. to subject (a substance, such as silver or gold) to chemical analysis, as in the determination of the amount of impurity
2. (transitive) to attempt (something or to do something)

noun / əˈseɪ ˈæseɪ/

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

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old Northern French assai; see essay

asˈsayer noun