trial

noun

• 1a 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 the editor was summoned to stand trial for libel

• 2a test of the performance, qualities, or suitability of someone or something:clinical trials must establish whether the new hip replacements are working
• an athletic contest to test the ability of players eligible for selection to a team.
• (trials) an event in which horses, dogs, or other animals compete or perform:horse trials

• 3a person, thing, or situation that tests a person’s endurance or forbearance:the trials and tribulations of married life

verb (trials, trialing, trialed ; Britishtrials, trialling, trialled)

• 1 [with object] test (something, especially a new product) to assess its suitability or performance:all seeds are carefully trialed in a variety of growing conditions

• 2 [no object] (of a horse, dog, or other animal) compete in trials:the pup trialed on Saturday