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Meaning & use

assayed

verb·Advancedtechnical

Last updated

UK/əˈseɪd/
US/əˈseɪd/

“assayed” is a form of “assay”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. verbtransitivechemistrytechnical

    Tested a metal, ore or other substance to find out how much of a particular material it contains.

    Grammar: Takes an object: they assayed the sample; the lab assayed the ore.

    Patterns

    • assay something for something

    The lab assayed the ore for gold content.

    Chemists assayed the water sample for lead.

    The mint assayed each coin to check its purity.

  2. verbtransitiveliteraryold-fashioned

    Tried to do something difficult, or attempted a task; mainly literary.

    Grammar: Takes an object or to-infinitive: she assayed a smile.

    Patterns

    • assayed to do something
    • assayed a smile

    He assayed a joke, but nobody laughed.

    She assayed to climb the steep trail alone.

    The young cook assayed a difficult sauce.

  3. verbtransitivemedicaltechnical

    Measured the strength or activity of something in a biological or medical test.

    Grammar: Takes an object: assayed the sample for protein.

    Patterns

    • assay something for something

    Technicians assayed the blood sample for vitamin D.

    The team assayed the enzyme activity in each sample.

    The researchers assayed the cells for toxins.

Word forms

third person singularassays
past tenseassayed
past participleassayed
-ing formassaying

Common combinations

assayed for gold
The rock was assayed for gold.
carefully assayed
The samples were carefully assayed in the lab.
assayed the ore
Miners assayed the ore before selling it.
assayed the sample
The chemist assayed the sample twice.
previously assayed
Previously assayed batches were stored safely.

Synonyms and how they differ

tested
Tested is the everyday word and works for anything, while assayed means testing a substance for its content.
analyzed
Analyzed is broader and covers many kinds of study, not only measuring metal or chemical content.
attempted
Attempted is the plain modern word for the literary sense of assayed.

Word family

assay noun
a test of the content of a substance
assay verb
to test or attempt
assayer noun
a person who tests metals or ores
assaying noun
the practice of testing materials

Commonly confused: assayed or essayed? assayed or assailed?

assayed vs essayed

Essayed is the same verb in a literary sense meaning attempted, but it comes from essay. In mining and labs, assay is the usual spelling.

assayed vs assailed

Assailed means attacked, not tested.

Practice

The mining company ___ the rock samples for gold before buying the land.

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