essay meaning and definition

ESSAY noun

Definition of essay (noun)

1. an analytic or interpretive literary composition
2. a tentative attempt

ESSAY verb

Definition of essay (verb)

1. make an effort or attempt
   • "He tried to shake off his fears"; "The infant had essayed a few wobbly steps"; "The police attempted to stop the thief"; "He sought to improve himself"; "She always seeks to do good in the world"
   • synonyms: assay, attempt, seek, try
2. put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to
   • "This approach has been tried with good results"; "Test this recipe"
   • synonyms: examine, prove, test, try, try out