trial
Meanings
noun
- An occasion on which a person or thing is tested to find out how well they perform or how suitable they are.
- The testing of a product or procedure.
- A research study to test the effectiveness and safety of a drug, medical procedure, etc.
- An event in which athletes’ or animals’ abilities are tested as they compete for a place on a team, or to move on to the next level of a championship, for example.
- A piece of ware used to test the heat of a kiln.
- An internal examination set by Eton College.
- An occasion on which armies or individuals meet in combat.
- A meeting or series of meetings in a court of law at which evidence is presented to a judge (and sometimes a jury) to allow them to decide on a legal matter (especially whether an accused person is guilty of a crime).
- A difficult or annoying experience or person; (especially religion) such an experience seen as a test of faith and piety.
- The action of trying (to do) something, especially more than once. (This sense is still current in the expression trial and error.)
adj
- Pertaining to a trial or test.
- Attempted on a provisional or experimental basis.
verb
- To carry out a series of tests on (a new product, procedure etc.) before marketing or implementing it.
- To try out (a new player) in a sports team.
adj
- Characterized by having three (usually equivalent) components.
- Triple.
- Pertaining to a language form referring to three of something, like people. (See Ambai language for an example.)
noun
- The trial number.
Pronunciation
Word forms
Etymology
From Middle English trial, triall, from Anglo-Norman trial, triel, from trier (“to pick out, cull”) + -al. More at English try.
Synonyms
Derived words
Translations
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