■ verb ( tries , ~ing , tried )
1》 make an attempt or effort to do something.
↘attempt to open (a door), contact (someone), etc.
↘( ~ for ) attempt to achieve or have: they're ~ing for another baby.
↘( ~ something on ) put on an item of clothing to see if it fits or suits one.
2》 (also ~ something out ) test (something new or different) to see if it is suitable, effective, or pleasant.
3》 make severe demands on: Mary tried everyone's patience to the limit.
4》 subject (someone) to trial.
↘investigate and decide (a case or issue) in a formal trial.
5》 smooth (wood) with a plane.
■ noun ( plural tries )
1》 an attempt to do or get something.
2》 a test of something new or different.
3》 Rugby an act of touching the ball down behind the opposing goal line, scoring points and entitling the scoring side to a kick at goal.
↘ American Football an attempt to score an extra point after a touchdown.
Phrases
tried and tested (or true ) having proved effective or reliable before.
~ one's hand at attempt to do for the first time.
~ it on Brit. informal
1》 attempt to seduce someone.
2》 deliberately test someone's patience.
Origin
ME: from OFr. trier 'sift', of unknown origin.
Usage
Try can be followed by either to or and in sentences such as we should ~ to (or ~ and ) help them . However, some traditionalists regard ~ and as incorrect, while ~ to is seen as more appropriate in formal writing. The construction ~ and is grammatically odd in that it cannot be inflected for tense (e.g. the sentence she tried and fix it is incorrect). For this reason ~ and is best regarded as a fixed idiom used only in its infinitive and imperative form. See also usage at and .