assay

1 the separation and identification of the parts of a whole a metallurgist did an assay on the metal and determined it contained nickel Synonyms anatomizing, anatomy, analysis, breakdown, deconstruction, dissectionRelated Words assessment, diagnosis, evaluation, examination, inspection, investigation, muster, scrutiny; arrangement, assortment, cataloging (or cataloguing), categorization, classification, codification, indexing; enumeration, inventory, itemization, tabulation; division, reduction, segmentation, separation, subdivisionNear Antonyms agglomeration, aggregation, amalgamation, assimilation, coalescence, conglomeration, consolidation, integration, synthesis, unification

2 archaic  an effort to do or accomplish something the poem about a frustrated man's last assay at greatness Synonyms attempt [archaic], bash [chiefly British], bid, crack, endeavor, essay, fling, go, offer, pass, shot, stab, trial, try, whack, whirlRelated Words striving, struggle, throes, undertaking; trial and error

1 to identify and examine the basic elements or parts of (something) especially for discovering interrelationships the company assayed a sample of the rock to see if it contained gold in quantities worth mining Synonyms anatomize, analyze, break down, cut, deconstruct, dissectRelated Words assess, diagnose, evaluate, examine, inspect, investigate, scrutinize; arrange, assort, catalog (or catalogue), categorize, classify, codify, diagram, enumerate, index, order, schematize, sort, tabulate; divide, reduce, segment, separate, subdivideNear Antonyms agglomerate, aggregate, amalgamate, assimilate, coalesce, conglomerate, consolidate, integrate, synthesize, unify

2 to make an effort to do assaying the task of writing his autobiography Synonyms attempt, endeavor, essay, seek, strive, tryRelated Words fight, strain, struggle, toil, trouble, work; aim, aspire, hope; assume, take up, undertakeNear Antonyms drop, give up, quit