1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Test.

2. (n.) The act of testing or proving; trial; proof.

3. (n.) The operation of refining gold or silver in a test, or cupel; cupellation.

R and D analytic control control experiment controlled experiment cut and try cut-and-try empirical empiricism examinational examinatorial examining experiment experimental experimental design experimental method experimental proof experimentalism experimentation explorational explorative exploratory fact-finding feeling groping heuristic hit and miss hit-or-miss indagative inspectional inspectorial investigational investigative investigatory noble experiment pilot pragmatism probationary probative probatory proving provisional research and development rule of thumb tentative tentative method tentativeness test trial trial and error trial-and-error trying verificatory zetetic