trial meaning and definition

TRIAL noun

Definition of trial (noun)

1. the act of testing something
   • "in the experimental trials the amount of carbon was measured separately"; "he called each flip of the coin a new trial"
   • synonyms: run, test
2. trying something to find out about it
   • "a sample for ten days free trial"; "a trial of progesterone failed to relieve the pain"
   • synonyms: test, trial run, tryout
3. the act of undergoing testing
   • "he survived the great test of battle"; "candidates must compete in a trial of skill"
   • synonyms: test
4. (law) the determination of a person's innocence or guilt by due process of law
   • "he had a fair trial and the jury found him guilty"; "most of these complaints are settled before they go to trial"
5. (sports) a preliminary competition to determine qualifications
   • "the trials for the semifinals began yesterday"
6. an annoying or frustrating or catastrophic event
   • "his mother-in-law's visits were a great trial for him"; "life is full of tribulations"; "a visitation of the plague"
   • synonyms: tribulation, visitation