I. tri ‧ al 1 S3 W2 /ˈtraɪəl/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Anglo-French ; Origin: trier ; ⇨ ↑ try 1 ]
1 . COURT [uncountable and countable] a legal process in which a judge and often a ↑ jury in a court of law examine information to decide whether someone is guilty of a crime ⇨ try :
The trial is due to start next week.
on trial (for something)
Brady was on trial for assault.
⇨ ↑ show trial
2 . TEST [uncountable and countable] a process of testing to find out whether something works effectively and is safe:
a new drug that is undergoing clinical trials
3 . TRY SOMEBODY/SOMETHING [uncountable and countable] a short period during which you use or do something or employ someone to find out whether they are satisfactory for a particular purpose or job ⇨ try
on trial
They let me have the computer on trial for thirty days.
The security system will be reviewed after a three-month trial period.
Smith was hired on a six-month trial basis.
trial separation (=a period of time in which a husband and wife do not live together, to find out whether they want to stay married)
4 . by/through trial and error if you do something by trial and error, you test many different methods of doing something in order to find the best:
I learned most of what I know about gardening through trial and error.
5 . DIFFICULTY [countable usually plural] something that is difficult to deal with, and that is worrying or annoying ⇨ trying :
the daily trials of living in a poor country
be a trial (to/for somebody)
My brothers and I were always a real trial to my parents.
the trials and tribulations of running a business
6 . SPORTS trials [plural] British English a special sports competition in which people who want to be on a team are tested, so that the best can be chosen SYN tryout American English
horse/sheepdog trials (=a sporting competition in which horses or dogs compete)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ be on trial (=be being judged in a court of law)
Her son is on trial charged with murder.
▪ stand/face trial (=be judged in a court of law)
Doctors said he was unfit to stand trial.
▪ go on trial
Taylor went on trial accused of fraud.
▪ be awaiting/facing trial
Its managing director is awaiting trial on corruption charges.
▪ put somebody on trial
They should never have been put on trial, let alone convicted.
▪ bring somebody to trial
The people who were responsible for this crime must be brought to trial.
▪ be sent for trial ( also be committed for trial British English )
Smith's lawyer battled to stop him being sent for trial in Britain.
▪ a trial is held
We believe the trial will be held sometime next month.
▪ a trial opens (=officially begins)
The trial opened 5 weeks ago.
▪ a trial is adjourned (=it is officially stopped for several days, weeks, or months)
The trial was adjourned until November.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + trial
▪ a murder/fraud etc trial
She was a witness in a murder trial.
▪ a fair trial
He is entitled to a fair trial.
▪ a criminal trial (=for cases involving a crime )
In a criminal trial, guilt has to be proven beyond reasonable doubt.
▪ a civil trial (=for cases dealing with the private affairs of citizens, rather than cases involving a crime)
In civil trials, the jury's decision need not be unanimous.
■ phrases
▪ a case goes/comes to trial
If the case ever went to trial, he would probably lose.
■ nouns
▪ the trial judge
The trial judge acquitted the accused on the charge of assault.
▪ the trial lawyer
He is regarded as one of the finest trial lawyers in the state.
▪ the trial court
The evidence will be fully tested in the trial court.
▪ a trial date
No trial date has been set because of procedural delays.
▪ the trial verdict
His lawyers have said they will appeal the civil trial verdict.
II. trial 2 BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle trialled , present participle trialling ) [transitive] British English
to thoroughly test something to see if it works correctly or is effective SYN try out :
These techniques were trialled by teachers in 300 schools.