to try

Examples

• All

• It would have been unwise to try to force an entry through the entanglement of brambles.

  Fiction book (1995)

• The chef will try the fat at a low temperature to separate the impurities.

• So I'm going to take this bracket off and try to melt the fan and put it back in.

• All his waking time was now spent trying to render ancient scribbles from a fat little book into plain writing anyone could read.

  Fiction book (1997)

• I have rendered beef fat for tallow, but not tried pork.

  Blog text (17)

• As the heat increased, the cook began to try the lard slowly to achieve a clean liquid.

Synonyms

M

to melt

vsto try

362 1.0

To change a solid into a liquid by heating it

is more specific to turning fat into liquid to separate impurities

M

to melt down

vsto try

12 3.0

Make a solid become liquid by heating it

is used only for fat processed to remove impurities rather than any solid

R

to render

vsto try

7 9.1

To melt animal fat to remove bits and keep the clear fat

has identical meaning and is an alternative term for the same process

Idioms

T

to try our best

14 2.1

To make as much effort as you can to reach a goal

O

on the first try

7 3.1

Succeeding the first time you try something

T

to try it on the dog

• Informal

9.5

Test something first with a small group before using it more widely

Phrasal Verbs

T

to try again

461 1.0

Do something one more time after you fail

T

to try out

229 2.8

To test something to see how it works

T

to try it on

144 3.0

To put on clothes to check if they fit and how they look

G

to give it a try

102 1.7

Try something for the first time to see if you like it

T

to try for

76 3.1

Make a strong effort to get something you want

T

to try out

64 2.8

To compete to be chosen for a role or team

T

to try on

56 1.1

To put on clothes to see if they fit or look good

T

to try to scam

• Informal

5 5.8

Attempt to trick someone and take their money

G

to give a try

1 1.6

To do something new to see if you can do it

T

to try a restaurant

1.5

To visit and eat at a restaurant to see what it is like

Compounds

T

try-on

6 3.7

An act of putting on clothes to see if they fit or look good

T

try square

• Specialized

6.2

A metal tool with a ruler and handle for checking right angles in wood or metal

Surface Forms

Etymology