test-fired

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitive or intransitivetechnical

   Fired a gun, missile, or rocket as a trial to see whether it works properly.

   Grammar: Can take an object ('test-fired the missile') or be used without one ('the missile test-fired successfully'); the past form is 'test-fired'.

   Patterns

   • test-fire something
   • test-fire a weapon
   • be test-fired

   Engineers test-fired the new engine three times before the launch.

   The navy test-fired a long-range missile over the sea on Tuesday.

   The rifle was test-fired at the factory to check its accuracy.

2. 2adjectivebefore a nountechnical

   Having been fired in a trial to check that it works, as of a weapon or rocket.

   Grammar: Comes before a noun and keeps the hyphen: a test-fired missile. After a verb, write it without a hyphen: was test fired.

   Patterns

   • a test-fired missile
   • a test-fired weapon
   • a test-fired round

   The report showed photographs of a test-fired rocket on the launch pad.

   Officials displayed a test-fired shell as proof that the system works.

Word forms

Common combinations

test-fire a missile

They plan to test-fire a missile from a submarine next month.

test-fire a weapon

Soldiers test-fire every weapon before it leaves the factory.

successfully test-fired

The company successfully test-fired its new rocket on Friday.

recently test-fired

The army recently test-fired artillery near the border.

Synonyms and how they differ

try out

A general phrase for testing anything; it does not suggest firing a weapon.

trial

As a verb, 'trial' is used mostly in British English for testing products, not usually for weapons.

Word family

test fire noun

An occasion when a weapon or rocket is fired as a trial.

test-firing noun

The act of firing something as a test.

Commonly confused: test-fired or test fire?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “test-fired”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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