WordWeb Online

1. The act of testing something
   "in the experimental trials the amount of carbon was measured separately"; "he called each flip of the coin a new trial"
   - test, run
    
2. Trying something to find out about it
   "a sample for ten days free trial"; "a trial of progesterone failed to relieve the pain"
   - trial run, test, tryout, dummy run [Brit]
    
3. The act of undergoing testing
   "candidates must compete in a trial of skill"
   - test
    
4. (law) the determination of a person's innocence or guilt by due process of law
   "he had a fair trial and the jury found him guilty"; "most of these complaints are settled before they go to trial"
    
5. (sports) a preliminary competition to determine qualifications
   "the trials for the semifinals began yesterday"
    
6. An annoying or frustrating or catastrophic event
   "his mother-in-law's visits were a great trial for him"
   - tribulation, visitation

1. Put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to
   - test, prove, try, try out, examine, essay

Derived forms: trials, trialling, trialled, trialing

See also: try

Type of: affliction, attempt, competition, contest, effort, endeavor [US], endeavour [Brit, Cdn], evaluate, experiment, experimentation, judge, legal proceeding, pass judgment, proceeding, proceedings, try

Encyclopedia: Trial