Any platform (hardware or software) used as a basis for experimentation(noun)
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Use "testbed" in a sentence
"Currently sitting on my testbed is a Lite-On iHAS322 which has served me well."
"Seager said that the testbed is a partnership between Lawrence Livermore and 10 participating commercial firms that are testing technologies that will be used in Sequoia."
"The testbed was the aforementioned budget laptop, and the highly-accurate timing device was myself, my thumb, and the stopwatch mode of my wristwatch."