trial

plural trials

1. An occasion on which a person or thing is tested to find out how well they perform or how suitable they are.

   all thy vexations / Were but my trials of thy love and thou / Hast strangely stood the test here

   c. 1611, William Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act IV, Scene 1

   2 more examples

   had my powers been less limited, I might have enforced obedience; but as it was, it was but a trial of strength between her and me, in which she generally came off victorious

   1847, Anne Brontë, chapter 3, in Agnes Grey, London: Thomas Cautley Newby, page 51

   Jama saw the sweaty, smelly work as a kind of test that, if passed, would entitle him to see his father, a trial of his worth as a son and as a man.

   2010, Nadifa Mohamed, Black Mamba Boy, Harper Collins, page 65

   Synonyms: test

   1. The testing of a product or procedure.

      They will perform the trials for the new equipment next week.

      Synonyms: test

   2. researchmedicineA research study to test the effectiveness and safety of a drug, medical procedure, etc.

      A randomized, controlled trial (RCT).

      Synonyms: test, clinical trial

   3. 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.

      soccer trials; sheepdog trials

      Synonyms: test

   4. ceramicsA piece of ware used to test the heat of a kiln.

      Synonyms: test

   5. UKAn internal examination set by Eton College.

      Synonyms: test

   6. archaicAn occasion on which armies or individuals meet in combat.

      In both your armies there is many a soul / Shall pay full dearly for this encounter, / If once they join in trial.

      c. 1597, William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part 1, Act V, Scene 1

      Synonyms: test

2. lawA 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).

   If you are convicted at trial, you have the right to file an appeal.

   5 more examples

   He was charged with war crimes and brought to trial before the International Tribunal.

   The journalists have been held in custody for three years without trial.

   as she hath / Been publicly accused, so shall she have / A just and open trial

   c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii]

   She, after form of trial condemned to die on the scaffold, / Patiently met her doom at the foot of the statue of Justice.

   1847, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Evangeline, Boston: Ticknor, Part 3, p. 42

   […] this case should never have come to trial.

   1960, Harper Lee, chapter 20, in To Kill a Mockingbird, Philadelphia: Lippincott, page 215

   Synonyms: court case

3. A difficult or annoying experience or person; (especially religion) such an experience seen as a test of faith and piety.

   That boy was a trial to his parents.

   5 more examples

   That they are Cowards, many have said, but few have found it so in the time of Trial.

   1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress, London: Nath. Ponder, page 172

   Poor Justine was very ill; but other trials were reserved for her.

   1818, Mary Shelley, chapter 5, in Frankenstein, volume 1, London: Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones, page 120

   I’m afraid I’m going to be a dreadful trial to you. Maybe you’d better send me back to the asylum.

   1908, Lucy Maud Montgomery, chapter 12, in Anne of Green Gables, Toronto: Ryerson Press, page 108

   […] I’m not used […] to waiting hungry on others while they eat. It is a sore trial for a hobbit, that.

   1955, J. R. R. Tolkien, chapter 4, in The Return of the King, New York: Ballantine Books, published 1973, page 98

   You must be strong now, for your greatest trials are still ahead.

   2008, Tan Twan Eng, The Gift of Rain, New York: Weinstein Books, Book 2, Chapter 13, p. 365

4. archaicThe action of trying (to do) something, especially more than once. (This sense is still current in the expression trial and error.)

   After a dozen trials he succeeded in lighting the lantern,

   1913, Willa Cather, chapter 1, in O Pioneers!, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, page 18

   3 more examples

   Finding my first Seed did not grow, which I easily imagin’d was by the Drought, I sought for a moister Piece of Ground to make another Trial in,

   1719, Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe, London: W. Taylor, page 123

   He summoned up all his strength for one last trial, and bent his faltering steps towards [the house].

   1839, Charles Dickens, chapter 28, in Oliver Twist, volume 2, London: Richard Bentley, page 144

   Before the first living cell was created, there may have been many trials and failures.

   1950, Rachel Carson, chapter 1, in The Sea Around Us, New York: Oxford University Press, published 1961, page 7

   Synonyms: attempt, try

1. not comparablePertaining to a trial or test.
2. not comparableAttempted on a provisional or experimental basis.

present singular third person trials · US participle present trialing · UK participle present trialling · US participle past trialed · US past trialed · UK participle past trialled · UK past trialled

1. transitiveTo carry out a series of tests on (a new product, procedure etc.) before marketing or implementing it.

   The warning system was extensively trialed before being fitted to all our vehicles.

   2 more examples

   In the week beginning April 6, the company began trialling the new processes - these include greater spacing, split shifts, additional safety requirements and washing facilities.

   2020 April 22, “Network News: Bombardier resumes work at Derby Litchurch Lane”, in Rail, page 9

   In Britain, bots are being trialed to bridge waiting times for people seeking therapy but unable to get appointments and as an e-triage tool.

   2022 September 27, Barclay Bram, “My Therapist, the Robot”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 12 Nov 2022

2. transitiveTo try out (a new player) in a sports team.

   The team trialled a new young goalkeeper in Saturday's match, with mixed results.

1. not comparableCharacterized by having three (usually equivalent) components.
2. not comparableTriple.
3. not comparablegrammarPertaining to a language form referring to three of something, like people. (See Ambai language for an example.)

   No language has a trial number unless it has a dual.

plural trials

1. grammarThe trial number.