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   Tri·al

   /ˈtrī(ə)l/

   

   noun

   • 1. a formal examination of evidence before a judge, and typically before a jury, in order to decide guilt in a case of criminal or civil proceedings: "the newspaper accounts of the trial" Similar court casecaselawsuitsuithearinginquirytribunallitigationjudicial proceedingslegal proceedingsproceedingslegal actioncourt martialappealretrial
   • 2. a test of the performance, qualities, or suitability of someone or something: "clinical trials must establish whether the new hip replacements are working" Similar testtryoutexperimentpilot studyexaminationcheckassessmentevaluationappraisaltrial/test periodtrial/test runprobationtestingdummy runauditionscreen testinformal:dry runtechnical:assay
   • ▪ an athletic contest to test the ability of players eligible for selection to a team: "he cracked his ankle the week before the final trial"
   • ▪ an event in which horses, dogs, or other animals compete or perform: "horse trials"
   • 3. a person, thing, or situation that tests a person's endurance or forbearance: "this winter has been a trial for me, physically and emotionally" Similar nuisancepestbotherirritantsource of irritation/annoyanceworryprobleminconveniencevexationplaguesource of aggravationthorn in one's fleshthe bane of one's lifeone's cross to bearboreinformal:painpain in the neckpain in the backsideheadachedragpillnightmareskelfpain in the buttnudnikburr under/in someone's saddlefair cowinformal, dated:blistervulgar slang:pain in the arsepain in the asstroubleworryanxietyburdenafflictionordealtribulationadversityhardshiptragedytraumareversesetbackdifficultyproblemmisfortunebad luckstroke of bad luckill fortunemishapmisadventuresufferingdistressmiserywretchednessunhappinesssadnesswoegriefpaininformal:hasslearchaic:travails

   verb

   • 1. test (something, especially a new product) to assess its suitability or performance: "all seeds are carefully trialed in a variety of growing conditions"
   • 2. (of a horse, dog, or other animal) compete in trials: "the pup trialed on Saturday"

   Word Origin late Middle English (as a noun): from Anglo-Norman French, or from medieval Latin triallum. The verb dates from the 1980s.

   Scrabble Points: 5

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