trial¹ /trīˈəl/

1. A trying
2. Examination by a test
3. A test of the efficacy, safety, etc, of a new product, esp a drug before it is marketed, or in order to gain official approval for its general use
4. Examination by a court to determine a question of law or fact, esp the guilt or innocence of a prisoner
5. (often in pl) examination, sometimes merely formal, of a candidate
6. (often in pl) a competition, esp to select members of a major team
7. A competition comprising various tests, for sheepdogs or horses
8. A competition to test vehicles in difficult conditions
9. Suffering
10. Temptation
11. An attempt
12. A piece used as a test
13. A troublesome thing, a nuisance

Done, taken, etc, for the sake of trial

To test (esp a new product)

triˈalist or triˈallist noun

1. A person taking part in a trial or test
2. A competitor or player under consideration for a place in a major team (sport)

trial balance noun (bookkeeping)

In the double-entry system, a listing of all the balances in a ledger to check that the total of credit balances is equal to the total of debit balances

trial balloon noun

A ballon d'essai

trial court noun

1. The first court where the facts of a case are decided
2. A court where cases are tried, as opposed to an appeal court (chiefly N American)

triˈal-day noun (Shakespeare)

Day of trial

triˈal-fire noun (Shakespeare)

A fire for trying or proving

trial marriage noun

For a couple intending matrimony, a period of living together with a view to testing their compatibility

trial run noun

1. A test drive in a motor vehicle to ascertain its efficiency
2. Any introductory test, rehearsal, etc

trial trip noun

An experimental trip of a new vessel, to test its sailing-powers, etc

triˈalware same as shareware (see under share¹).

by trial and error

By trying out several methods and discarding those which prove unsuccessful

• satnav
• satori
• satoris
• satrap
• satrapal
• satrapies
• satraps
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• sat sapienti
• satsuma
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• Satsuma ware
• saturability
• saturable
• saturant
• saturants
• saturate
• saturated
• saturated fat
• saturated fats
• saturates
• saturating
• saturation
• saturation coefficient
• saturation diving