Etimology
From Middle English trial, triall, from Anglo-Norman trial, triel, from trier (“to pick out, cull”) + -al. More at English try.
noun
trial (plural trials)
An occasion on which a person or thing is tested to find out how well they perform or how suitable they are.
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).
A difficult or annoying experience or person; (especially religion) such an experience seen as a test of faith and piety.
(archaic) The action of trying (to do) something, especially more than once. (This sense is still current in the expression trial and error.)
Examples
Synonym: test
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.
They will perform the trials for the new equipment next week.
Synonym: clinical trial
A randomized, controlled trial .
soccer trials; sheepdog trials
In both your armies there is many a soul / Shall pay full dearly for this encounter, / If once they join in trial.
Synonym: court case
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.
[…] this case should never have come to trial.
Your Honor, we object to all of this. The whole thing. This mock trial. The entire justice system is rigged against my client.
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.
You must be strong now, for your greatest trials are still ahead.
Synonyms: attempt, try
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.
adjective
trial (not comparable)
Pertaining to a trial or test.
Attempted on a provisional or experimental basis.
verb
trial (third-person singular simple present trials, present participle (UK) trialling or (US) trialing, simple past and past participle (UK) trialled or (US) trialed)
(transitive) To carry out a series of tests on (a new product, procedure etc.) before marketing or implementing it.
(transitive) To try out (a new player) in a sports team.
Examples
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.
The team trialled a new young goalkeeper in Saturday's match, with mixed results.
Etimology
From Latin tri- (stem of trēs (“three”)) + -al, on the pattern of dual.
adjective
trial (not comparable)
Characterized by having three (usually equivalent) components.
Triple.
(grammar) Pertaining to a language form referring to three of something, like people. (See Ambai language for an example.)
Examples
Coordinate terms: singular, dual, plural
No language has a trial number unless it has a dual.
noun
trial (plural trials)
(grammar) The trial number.