quilatar

Senses

1. 1.

   to assay (metal)

   to determine the purity or fineness of gold or silver

2. 2.

   to evaluate; to appraise

   to assess or judge the quality or value of something

Examples

• "El orfebre quilataba el oro antes de trabajarlo."

  The goldsmith assayed the gold before working with it.

• "Es difícil quilatar el verdadero valor de una obra de arte."

  It is difficult to evaluate the true value of a work of art.

• "Quilataron cada moneda para verificar su pureza."

  They assayed each coin to verify its purity.

Usage

A somewhat formal or technical verb, most commonly used in the context of precious metals and their quality assessment, though it can be extended metaphorically to mean "to judge" or "to evaluate" in a more general sense. Related to the noun "quilate" (carat).