trial

noun

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”

   “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”

   “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.”

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

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

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

   “A randomized, controlled trial (RCT).”

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

   “soccer trials; sheepdog trials”

5. An occasion on which a person or thing is tested to find out how well they perform or how suitable they are.
6. (UK)An occasion on which a person or thing is tested to find out how well they perform or how suitable they are.
7. (archaic)An occasion on which a person or thing is tested to find out how well they perform or how suitable they are.

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

8. 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).

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

   “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”

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

9. 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.”

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

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

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

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

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

    “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,”

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

    “After a dozen trials he succeeded in lighting the lantern,”

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

11. The trial number.

adj

1. (not-comparable)Pertaining to a trial or test.
2. (not-comparable)Attempted on a provisional or experimental basis.
3. (not-comparable)Characterized by having three (usually equivalent) components.
4. (not-comparable)Triple.
5. (not-comparable)Pertaining 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.”

verb

1. (transitive)To 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.”

   “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.”

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

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