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trial definition

trial (trī′əl, trīl)

noun

    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
  3. a formal examination of the facts of a case by a court of law to decide the validity of a charge or claim
  4. an attempt; endeavor; effort

Etymology: Anglo-Fr < trier: see try

adjective

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

on trial

in the process of being tried

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms trial idiom

law trial definition - legal

trial Synonyms

trial

modif.

tentative, test, trial balloon, preliminary, probationary, temporary; see also experimental.


trial

n.

  1. An effort to learn the truth

    analysis, test, examination; see experiment 1.

  2. A case at law

    suit, lawsuit, fair hearing, hearing, action, case, contest, indictment, legal proceedings, claim, cross-examination, litigation, counterclaim, replevin, arraignment, prosecution, citation, court action, judicial contest, seizure, assumpsit, bill of divorce, habeas corpus, court-martial, impeachment, rap*, try*, court clash*.

  3. An ordeal

    suffering, severe test, ordeal, crucible, tribulation, affliction, trying experience, misfortune, heavy blow, annoyance, bother, irritant, nuisance, headache*, pain*; see also affliction. See syn. study at affliction.

on trial

  1. in litigation, at law, before the bar, before a judge, before a jury, indicted, being tried.

  2. on a trial basis, on approval, for a trial period, being tested, under consideration, not yet accepted;


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

trial Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • randomize: Randomized trial of oral aspirin for chronic venous leg ulcers.

Adjective modifier

  • clinical: A clinical trial of the effects of dietary patterns on blood pressure.

Modifies a noun

  • judge: Essentially, the House of Lords decision in A requires trial judges to read s. 41 in a manner compatible with Art.

Preposition: by

  • jury: Conservatives: weakening of trial by jury is not the way to cut crime.

Noun used with modifier

  • jury: At the initial phase only cases imposing either death penalty or maximum imprisonment term will be handled by jury trial.
trial usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

trial quotes

Trial by jury itself, instead of being a security to persons who are accused, will be a delusion, a mockery, and a snare.

-Denman,Thomas, 1st Baron

Equal and exact justice to all men†freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of the person under the protection of the habeas corpus; and trial by juries impartially selectedöthese principles form the bright constellation that has gone before us.

-Jefferson,Thomas

I cannot praise a fugitive and cloistered virtue, unexercised and unbreathed, that never sallies out and sees her adversary, but slinks out of the race where that immortal garland is to be run for, not without dust and heat. Assuredly we bring not innocence into the world, we bring impurity much rather; that which purifies us is trial, and trial is by what is contrary.

-Milton,John

trial quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"trial." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/trial>

APA Style

trial. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/trial

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