quiz

/kwɪz/

/kwɪz/

Other forms: quizzed; quizzing; quizzes

A quiz is a short series of questions with a quick result. A magazine quiz might tell a reader if "he's into you," or a pop quiz in English class will let your teacher know how far you got (or didn't get) in last night's reading.

As a verb, quiz means to ask a series of questions. A teacher might quiz his students on the material covered in lecture the day before. A mother might quiz her son as to his plans for after school. The questioning meaning of the noun and verb came into use in the mid-nineteenth century, possibly influence by words like inquisitive. Before that, quiz could refer to an odd or unconventional person, a meaning which eventually gave rise to quizzical, still in use today.

Definitions of quiz

1. noun

   an examination consisting of a few short questions
   types:

   pop quiz

   a quiz given without prior warning

   type of:

   exam, examination, test

   a set of questions or exercises evaluating skill or knowledge
2. verb

   examine someone's knowledge of something
   “We got quizzed on French irregular verbs”

   synonyms: test

   test

   undergo a test

   type of:

   examine

   question closely