trial

tri·al

Use trial in a sentence

noun

The definition of a trial is a hearing in a court case, a test or a hardship.

An example of trial is the court case of an accused robber.
An example of trial is the use of a small size bottle of shampoo to sample the product.
An example of trial is a physical obstacle course.

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trial

1. the act or process of trying, testing, or putting to the proof; test
2. a testing of qualifications, attainments, or progress; probation
3. experimental treatment or operation; experiment
1. the fact or state of being tried by suffering, temptation, etc.
2. a hardship, suffering, etc. that tries one's endurance
3. a person or thing that is a source of annoyance or irritation
a formal examination of the facts of a case by a court of law to decide the validity of a charge or claim
an attempt; endeavor; effort

Origin of trial

Anglo-French from trier: see try

of a trial or trials
made, done, or used for the purpose of trying, testing, etc.

trial Idioms

on trial

in the process of being tried, as in a court of law

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Trial. (n.d.). In YourDictionary. Retrieved from https://www.yourdictionary.com/TRIAL

trial

noun

Law
a. A proceeding in which opposing parties in a dispute present evidence and make arguments on the application of the law before a judge or jury: The case is expected to go to trial.
b. An instance of such a proceeding: the trial of Socrates.
a. The act or process of testing, trying, or putting to the proof: a trial of one's faith.
b. An instance of such testing, especially as part of a series of tests or experiments: a clinical trial of a drug.
An effort or attempt: succeeded on the third trial.
A state of pain or anguish that tests patience, endurance, or belief: “the fiery trial through which we pass” ( Abraham Lincoln )
A trying, troublesome, or annoying person or thing: The child was a trial to his parents.
A preliminary competition or test to determine qualifications, as in a sport.

adjective

Of, relating to, or used in a trial.
Attempted or advanced on a provisional or experimental basis: a married couple on a trial separation.
Made or done in the course of a trial or test.

Origin of trial

Middle English triall a testing from Anglo-Norman trial from trier to pick out, try from Old French trier to pick out, separate out ; see try .

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Trial. (n.d.). In YourDictionary. Retrieved from https://www.yourdictionary.com/TRIAL

trial

trial affliction crucible ordeal tribulation

These nouns denote distress or suffering that severely tests resiliency and character: no consolation in their hour of trial; the affliction of a bereaved family; the crucible of revolution; the ordeal of being an innocent murder suspect; a time of relentless tribulation.

See Also Synonyms at burden¹.

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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"Trial." YourDictionary. LoveToKnow. www.yourdictionary.com/TRIAL.

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Trial. (n.d.). In YourDictionary. Retrieved from https://www.yourdictionary.com/TRIAL

Noun

(plural trials)

an opportunity to test something out; a test.
They will perform the trials for the new equipment next week.
appearance at judicial court.
a difficult or annoying experience
That boy was a trial to his parents

Adjective

(not comparable)

Pertaining to a trial or test.
Attempted on a provisional or experimental basis.

Verb

(third-person singular simple present trials, present participle Commonwealth trialling, US trialing, simple past and past participle Commonwealth trialled, US trialed)

To carry out a series of tests on (a new product, procedure etc.) before marketing or implementing it.
The warning system was extensively trialled before being fitted to all our vehicles.
To try out (a new player) in a sports team.
The team trialled a new young goalkeeper in Saturday's match, with mixed results.

Origin

From Anglo-Norman trial, from trier (“to pick out, cull") + -al. More at try.

Adjective

(not comparable)

Characterized by having three (usually equivalent) components.
Triple.
(grammar) pertaining to a language form referring to three of something, as people; contrast singular, dual and plural.
No language has a trial number unless it has a dual.

Origin

From Latin trialis, an adjective formed from tres (“three") + -Älis.

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.

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trial - Legal Definition

n

A formal judicial examination of issues of law or fact between parties by a court with jurisdiction in such cases.
A formal adversarial proceeding to hear evidence and decide legal issues and claims. Trials are covered by established rules of courtroom procedure as well as rules of evidence.

bench trial

A trial held in front of a judge, but without the presence of a jury. Both parties must waive their constitutional rights to a trial by jury. The judge then gets to decide matters of fact as well as matters of law.

trial by jury

See jury trial.

trial de novo

A new trial, usually ordered by an appellate court that retries both matters of fact and law and proceeds as if the original trial had never taken place. See also mistrial and retrial.