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Definition of examination noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

examination

noun
 
/ɪɡˌzæmɪˈneɪʃn/
 
/ɪɡˌzæmɪˈneɪʃn/
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  1. [countable] (formal)
    (also exam)
    a formal written, spoken or practical test, especially at school or college, to see how much you know about a subject, or what you can do
    • successful candidates in GCSE examinations
    • examination in something to sit an examination in mathematics
    • examination for something In 1864 he passed the examination for the Indian Civil Service.
    • Applicants are selected for jobs on the results of a competitive examination.
    Use take/do/sit an examination not write an examination .
    Extra Examples
    • He failed his examination in history.
    • She has just completed her final examinations at London University.
    • He was marking school examination papers during the summer vacation.
    • One of the teacher's principal duties is to prepare students for external examinations.
    • She will take her examinations later this year.
    • Students may enter for both examinations.
    • The examinations are set by individual teachers.
    • The stiff entrance examination removes 60 per cent of prospective students.
    • an examination on human anatomy
    • the faults in the examination system
    • There has been a fall in the number of examination candidates.
    Topics Educationb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • certification
    • entrance
    • final
    verb + examination
    • prepare for
    • study for
    • do
    examination + noun
    • paper
    • question
    • results
    preposition
    • examination in
    • examination on
    See full entry
  2. [uncountable, countable] the act of looking at or considering something very carefully
    • Careful examination of the ruins revealed an even earlier temple.
    • The issue needs further examination.
    • The review is the most detailed examination of policing since 1992.
    • The chapter concludes with a brief examination of some of the factors causing family break-up.
    • after (an) examination After a thorough examination, they announced that the suspicious device was harmless.
    • on examination On closer examination it was found that the signature was not genuine.
    • under examination Your proposals are still under examination.
    • examination by somebody The party would open up the issue to examination by a Senate Committee.
    Extra Examples
    • Constraints of space do not permit a thorough examination of all of these points.
    • His ideas about social change do not stand up to close examination.
    • The school curriculum has undergone critical examination in recent years.
    • This argument requires examination from several angles.
    Topics Opinion and argumentb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • careful
    • close
    • complete
    verb + examination
    • carry out
    • conduct
    • do
    examination + verb
    • confirm something
    • demonstrate something
    • reveal something
    examination + noun
    • couch
    • table
    • room
    preposition
    • on examination
    • under examination
    • examination on
    See full entry
  3. [countable, uncountable] a close look at something/somebody, especially to see if there is anything wrong or to find the cause of a problem
    • a medical/physical examination
    • a post-mortem/forensic examination
    • Regular breast examination is advised.
    • A specialist should carry out an examination of the patient.
    • Diagnosis can be made only by direct examination of affected brain tissue.
    • examination by somebody Further examination by an orthopaedic surgeon will be needed today.
    see also cross-examination, re-examination, self-examination
    Extra Examples
    • A visual examination corroborated this.
    • I was advised to have a full eyesight examination.
    • Patients were asked to lie on the examination table.
    • She lay on the examination couch and waited for the doctor to return.
    • They rushed her into the examination room.
    • We did examinations on the bodies.
    • We will make a more thorough examination of the area later.
    • a microscopic examination of the cell structure
    • a periodic health examination
    • a routine breast examination
    • genital checks and other intimate examinations
    Topics Healthcareb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • careful
    • close
    • complete
    verb + examination
    • carry out
    • conduct
    • do
    examination + verb
    • confirm something
    • demonstrate something
    • reveal something
    examination + noun
    • couch
    • table
    • room
    preposition
    • on examination
    • under examination
    • examination on
    See full entry
  4. Word Originlate Middle English (also in the sense ‘testing (one's conscience) by a standard’): via Old French from Latin examinatio(n-), from examinare ‘weigh, test’, from examen ‘examination’.
See examination in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee examination in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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