trial

/'traiəl/
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trial

The defendant stands trial in a courtroom.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • An annoying, frustrating, or difficult event or person: An experience or person that tests one's patience, endurance, or tolerance.
    • A test of performance, qualities, or suitability: The process of trying something to evaluate its function, usefulness, or to gain experience with it.
    • (Law) The formal examination of evidence and legal arguments in a court of law: A judicial process to decide a person's guilt or innocence in a criminal case, or to settle a dispute in a civil case.
    • (Sports) A preliminary competition to select participants: A test or series of tests used to determine qualification for a team or a later stage of competition.
    • The act of testing something: A process of experimentation or assessment, often scientific or systematic.
Usage Examples
  • As a difficult event/person:
    • Living in a noisy neighborhood can be a real trial.
    • The long delay at the airport was a trial for all the passengers.
  • As a test or experiment:
    • The new software is available for a free 30-day trial.
    • They conducted a trial of the new teaching method in three schools.
  • In a legal context:
    • The defendant chose a trial by jury.
    • The case never went to trial; it was settled out of court.
  • In sports:
    • She earned her spot on the Olympic team after the final trials.
    • The swimming trials will be held next month.
Advanced Usage
  • "On trial":
    • Being tried in a court of law.
      • The former CEO is currently on trial for fraud.
    • Being tested or used experimentally.
      • The new employee is on trial for the first three months.
  • "Trial and error": A method of solving a problem by trying different possibilities until one succeeds.
    • I learned to cook through trial and error.
  • "Trial run": A test of a new system, product, or procedure to see how it works.
    • We'll do a trial run of the presentation tomorrow.
Variants and Related Words
  • Try (verb): To attempt or to test. (e.g., )
  • Trier (noun): A person who makes an effort. (e.g., )
  • Trialist (noun): A person participating in a sports trial. (e.g., )
Synonyms
  • Test: A procedure intended to establish quality or performance.
  • Ordeal: A painful or horrific experience.
  • Hearing: A legal proceeding before a judge, often less formal than a trial.
  • Audition: A trial performance by an actor, musician, etc.
  • Experiment: A scientific procedure to make a discovery or test a hypothesis.
Related Phrases
  • Bring to trial: To formally accuse someone and begin legal proceedings against them.
    • The prosecutor decided to bring the suspect to trial.
  • Stand trial: To be the defendant in a legal trial.
    • He will stand trial next spring.
Related Idioms
  • A trial of strength: A test of power or endurance between rivals.
    • The election became a trial of strength between the two main parties.
  • Trial by fire: A difficult initiation or test of one's abilities under pressure.
    • Her first week as manager was a real trial by fire.
trial

The defendant stands trial in a courtroom.

Noun
  1. an annoying or frustrating or catastrophic event
    • his mother-in-law's visits were a great trial for him
    • life is full of tribulations
    • a visitation of the plague
  2. (sports) a preliminary competition to determine qualifications
    • the trials for the semifinals began yesterday
  3. (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
  4. the act of undergoing testing
    • he survived the great test of battle
    • candidates must compete in a trial of skill
  5. trying something to find out about it
    • a sample for ten days free trial
    • a trial of progesterone failed to relieve the pain
  6. 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