WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026quiz
(kwiz), n., pl. quiz•zes, v., quizzed, quiz•zing. n. [countable]
- an informal or short test.
- a questioning.
v. [~ + object]
- to test informally by questions:quizzed her students on irregular verb forms.
- to ask questions of (someone) closely:The reporters quizzed the president.
quiz•zer, n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026quiz
(kwiz),USA pronunciation n., pl. quiz•zes, v., quizzed, quiz•zing.
n.
- an informal test or examination of a student or class.
- a questioning.
- a practical joke;
a hoax.
- British Terms[Chiefly Brit.]an eccentric, often odd-looking person.
v.t.
- to examine or test (a student or class) informally by questions.
- to question closely:The police quizzed several suspects.
- British Terms[Chiefly Brit.]to make fun of;
ridicule;
mock;
chaff.
- 1775–85 in sense "odd person''; 1840–50 for def. 1; origin, originally uncertain
quiz′zer, n.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
quiz /kwɪz/ n ( pl quizzes)- an entertainment in which the general or specific knowledge of the players is tested by a series of questions, esp as a radio or television programme
- (as modifier): a quiz programme
- any set of quick questions designed to test knowledge
- an investigation by close questioning; interrogation
- obsolete a practical joke; hoax
- obsolete a puzzling or eccentric individual
- obsolete a person who habitually looks quizzically at others, esp through a small monocle
vb (quizzes, quizzing, quizzed) (transitive)- to investigate by close questioning; interrogate
- US Canadian informal to test or examine the knowledge of (a student or class)
- (transitive) obsolete to look quizzically at, esp through a small monocle
Etymology: 18th Century: of unknown originˈquizzer n
'quizzing' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):