/ Dictionary / Index T trial: Meaning and Definition of Find definitions for: tri•al Pronunciation: (trī'ul, trīl), [key] — n. the examination before a judicial tribunal of the facts put in issue in a cause, often including issues of law as well as those of fact. the determination of a person's guilt or innocence by due process of law. the act of trying, testing, or putting to the proof. test; proof. an attempt or effort to do something. a tentative or experimental action in order to ascertain results; experiment. the state or position of a person or thing being tried or tested; probation. subjection to suffering or grievous experiences; a distressed or painful state: comfort in the hour of trial. an affliction or trouble. a trying, distressing, or annoying thing or person. a piece of ceramic material used to try the heat of a kiln and the progress of the firing of its contents. undergoing examination before a judicial tribunal. undergoing a probationary or trial period. —adj. of, pertaining to, or employed in a trial. done or made by way of trial, proof, or experiment. used in testing, experimenting, etc. acting or serving as a sample, experimental specimen, etc.: a trial offer. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease. See also: trial (Thesaurus) triage trial and error Related Content Daily Word Quiz: magnanimous Analogy of the Day: Today’s Analogy Spelling Bee: Today’s Spelling Bee Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language