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dick test: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Rare / Historical
UK/ˈdɪk ˌtɛst/US/ˈdɪk ˌtɛst/

Technical / Medical (historical)

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Quick answer

What does “dick test” mean?

A historical skin test used to determine susceptibility to scarlet fever.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A historical skin test used to determine susceptibility to scarlet fever.

A medical test where a small injection of Streptococcus pyogenes toxin is used to check for immunity, named after American physicians George F. Dick and Gladys H. Dick.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant contemporary regional difference, as the term is obsolete. Historically used in both medical communities.

Connotations

Purely a historical medical procedure. The informal connotations of the first word are irrelevant in this specific, fixed compound.

Frequency

Extremely rare in both regions, found only in historical medical texts or discussions of medical history.

Grammar

How to Use “dick test” in a Sentence

administer the Dick test [to someone]The Dick test was performed.test [sb] using the Dick test

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
Dick testpositive Dick testnegative Dick test
medium
perform the Dick testresult of the Dick testDick test reaction
weak
historical testscarlet fever testskin test

Examples

Examples of “dick test” in a Sentence

verb

British English

  • The physician decided to Dick-test the patient to confirm susceptibility.
  • They were Dick-tested upon admission.

American English

  • The doctor opted to Dick test the new recruits.
  • Children in the study were Dick tested.

adjective

British English

  • The Dick-test procedure was standardised in the 1920s.
  • She showed a positive Dick-test reaction.

American English

  • The Dick test results were recorded meticulously.
  • A Dick test kit was part of the historical display.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Not used.

Academic

Used only in historical or medical history contexts to describe early 20th-century diagnostic methods.

Everyday

Not used; would be confusing and likely misunderstood.

Technical

Historical term in medicine and immunology for a specific toxin-based skin test.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “dick test”

Neutral

Dick reaction test

Weak

scarlet fever susceptibility test

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “dick test”

  • Using it in a non-historical medical context.
  • Assuming it has any contemporary or informal meaning.
  • Pronouncing 'Dick' with a different vowel sound (it is /ɪ/, not /aɪ/).

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No, it is a historical test made largely obsolete by antibiotics and modern diagnostic methods.

It is named after its developers, American physicians George F. Dick and Gladys H. Dick.

In a proper historical or medical context, it is a standard eponymous term. However, outside that specific context, it is highly likely to be misinterpreted due to the modern slang meaning of 'dick'.

Treat it as a fixed, low-frequency historical term. Recognize it only in medical history contexts and avoid using it in general conversation due to high potential for misunderstanding.

A historical skin test used to determine susceptibility to scarlet fever.

Dick test is usually technical / medical (historical) in register.

Dick test: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdɪk ˌtɛst/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdɪk ˌtɛst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of 'Dick' as the surname of the doctors who invented it (Dick and Dick), not the common name.

Conceptual Metaphor

MEDICAL TESTING IS A PROBE (historical).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
The historical was used to determine if a person was susceptible to scarlet fever.
Multiple Choice

What is the 'dick test' primarily associated with?