beta test

noun
1.
Psychology. a set of mental tests designed to measure the general intelligence of individuals unable to read and write adequately or at all, used by the U.S. Army in World War I.
2.
Computers. a quality-control technique in which hardware or software is subjected to trial in the environment for which it was designed, usually after debugging by the manufacturer and immediately prior to marketing.
Compare alpha test.

beta-test

[bey-tuh-test] /ˈbeɪ təˌtɛst/
verb (used with object)
1.
Computers. to subject (software or hardware) to a beta test.
Compare alpha-test.
Examples from the web for beta test
  • In a beta test of the enclosure it was installed on a backbone fiber between a terminal site and a repeater site.
  • Because the service has so far been in a quiet beta test, the company would not say how many people have tried it so far.
  • The first, which started earlier this month, is a six-week beta test of a prototype software platform.
  • The system is now in a closed beta test, but they are planning a rollout soon.
  • The future examination forms will include different beta test questions.
British Dictionary definitions for beta test

beta-test

noun
1.
a test of a new or modified piece of computer software by customers who volunteer to do so
verb (transitive)
2.
to test (software) in this way Compare alpha-test