1. (

• test ,
• trial ,
• run ,

) 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" ;

2. (

• trial ,
• trial_run ,
• test ,
• tryout

) trying something to find out about it; "a sample for ten days free trial"; "a trial of progesterone failed to relieve the pain" ;

3. (

• test ,
• trial ,

) the act of undergoing testing; "he survived the great test of battle"; "candidates must compete in a trial of skill" ;

4. (

• trial ,

) (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. (

• trial ,

) (sports) a preliminary competition to determine qualifications; "the trials for the semifinals began yesterday" ;

6. (

• trial ,
• tribulation ,
• visitation

) 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" ;