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trial

trial

78 3.0
A competition to choose people for a team or event
  • noun
  • /ˈtraɪəl/
translation icon : prueba
  • The gymnastics team held a series of trials to select the athletes for the upcoming championship.
  • practice trials
  • given three trials

The Australian World Championship team trials just took place.

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Examples

  • The Australian World Championship team trials just took place.

  • So have you told him about the trials?

  • We got trials coming up.

  • After the practice trial, each subject was filmed on three test trials while running at a maximum pace.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Again, they had 20 unrecorded practice trials to adapt to the new categories.

    Academic text (2008)
  • She passed her trials without the slightest incident.

  • We're skipping three rounds of preliminary trials.

  • Nah, I've got the trials coming up and I've got to practice.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Hi, I'm Tympani Charles, on the scene at Mission Beach in San Diego, where the Miss Mission Beach Beauty Pagent trials are underway.

  • Several times, consecutive trials yielded all ten allowed winners before the five-minute timer had lapsed.

    Fiction book (2002)

Synonyms

competition
vstrial
396 2.3

An event where people or teams compete to win

is about choosing who can take part rather than winning
prelim
vstrial
  • Jargon
4 7.2

A short match that happens before the main event in sports or shows

is for matches that select or qualify participants

Idioms

122 3.8

Being tested for a short time to see if it works or is useful

Finding a solution by trying different ways and learning from mistakes

Compounds

clinical trial
  • Specialized
67 3.9

A controlled test with people to see if a new medicine is safe and works

36 3.6

A person who represents people in court during trials

A way of solving a problem by trying different solutions until one works

trial judge
  • Formal
13 5.1

A person who leads a court trial and decides about the law and evidence

13 3.2

A short test to see if something works well before real use

trial court
  • Specialized
9 3.7

A court where a case is first heard and the facts are decided

trial attorney
  • Specialized
8 4.7

A lawyer who speaks for clients in court cases before a judge or jury

show trial
  • Literature
7 8.6

A public court case planned to make a person look guilty

4 3.4

A fixed time when a person or thing is tested to see if they are suitable

trial by fire
  • Informal
3 7.4

A very difficult test that shows if someone can do a job under pressure

Solving a problem by trying different ways and learning from mistakes until you succeed

An idea someone offers to see how people react before a decision

1 8.4

A 1925 American court case in Tennessee about a teacher put on trial for teaching evolution

1 3.9

A test of a new product or system in real use to see how well it works

1 4.3

The first test of a new medicine on a small group to check safety, side effects, and safe dose

1 5.0

A large study that tests a medicine's effects and side effects before approval

trial by media
  • Literature
1 6.9

News and social media make people judge someone before the court decides

An event in which judges test hunting dogs' skills outdoors

A legal promise that a person charged with a crime gets a quick, public court hearing by a jury

5.1

A study done after a drug is approved to check its safety and how well it works in many people

4.2

A medical test with more people to see if a treatment works and check for side effects

preclinical trial
  • Specialized
6.0

A study on animals to see if a new drug works before testing in people

A balloon released to test wind and air conditions

trial balance
  • Specialized
5.5

A list of account totals that shows whether debit and credit amounts match

trial by ordeal
  • Literature
9.9

A way to decide if someone is guilty by making them do dangerous tests and seeing if they survive

trial impression
  • Specialized
7.7

A test print people use to check for mistakes before the final print

How Selective

final
191 2.0
qualifier
18 3.7
tryout
62 3.8
trial
78 3.0
practice
585 1.6

Surface Forms

trial singular
trials plural

Etymology

Trial comes from the old French trier, meaning 'to try' or 'to choose'. So a trial in sport is like a 'try out' where people show their skills to be chosen.