probada

Probada is the feminine form of the past participle of the Spanish verb probar. It functions as an adjective meaning "tested" or "proven" and, in its noun use, can refer to a test, trial, or sampling. In everyday language, probada is often encountered in culinary terms to denote a tasting or bite, as in la probada de un plato or una probada de vino, where it simply means a small sample or taste.

Etymology and grammar: Probada derives from probar, which comes from Latin probare, meaning to test or prove. The suffix -ada forms nouns and adjectives related to an action or result, hence probada can denote both the act of testing and the state of having been tested.

Usage and nuances: As an adjective, probada describes something that has undergone testing or verification and is considered proven or reliable. As a noun, it can refer to a sampling or trial, though this noun use is more common in culinary or informal contexts. The masculine form would be probado (tested) or probada (feminine) depending on gender and number in the sentence. In many formal contexts, more common synonyms for “test” or “sampling” include prueba and degustación.

Example contexts: A chef offers a probada of a new dish to diners; a quality control section mentions la probada del lote; a consumer discusses probada de vino to indicate a sample tasting. While widely understood in Spanish, probada is less frequently used in strictly technical writing, where pruebas or ensayos are typically preferred.