trial
noun
uk/ˈtraɪəl/ us [ C ] PRODUCTION
a test to discover how safe, effective, etc. a product is:
a clinical/drug/field trial The company conducted three clinical trials to determine the drug's safety.
conduct/run/undergo trials
[ C or U ] PRODUCTION, HR
the process of using a product or employing a person for a short period in order to decide how effective or suitable they are:
Under the scheme, employers fill a vacancy with a long-term unemployed individual on a trial basis for up to 15 working days.
You can buy the equipment on trial and take it back if you don't like it.
Agents are usually appointed for a trial period.
[ C or U ] LAW
in a court of law, the process of judging whether a person is guilty of a crime or deciding a legal problem, which involves hearing statements, showing objects, etc.:
await/face/stand trial He was ordered to stand trial on charges of unlawful computer use.
be/go/be put on trial for sth The former chief executive is on trial for fraud.
The company is scheduled to go to trial next year.
get/be given a fair trial
trial and error
a way of achieving something or solving a problem by trying a number of different methods and learning from the mistakes you make:
Although some products' quality can be verified through trial and error, this is not always practical.
See also
acceptance trial
blind trial
free trial
trial
verb [ T ]
uk/ˈtraɪəl/ us-ll- | or -l-to test something in a formal way to discover how effective or suitable it is:
The group is trialling internet ordering for its paper and plastic products.
The system will be trialed in the third quarter of the year in both the U.S. and Japan.