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Definition of trial noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

      

    trial

     noun
    noun
    NAmE//ˈtraɪəl//
     
     
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    law
  1. 1[uncountable, countable] a formal examination of evidence in court by a judge and often a jury, to decide if someone accused of a crime is guilty or not a murder trial He's on trial for murder. She will stand trial/go on trial for fraud. The men were arrested but not brought to trial. The case never came to trial. She is awaiting trial on corruption charges. He did not receive a fair trial. She was detained without trial. Topic CollocationsCriminal Justicebreaking the law
    • break/violate/obey/uphold the law
    • be investigated/arrested/tried for a crime/a robbery/fraud
    • be arrested/indicted/convicted on felony charges/on charges of rape/fraud
    • be arrested on suspicion of arson/robbery/shoplifting
    • be accused of/be charged with murder/homicide/four counts of fraud
    • face two charges of assault and battery
    • admit your guilt/liability/responsibility (for something)
    • deny the allegations/claims/charges
    • confess to a crime
    • be granted/be refused/be released on/skip/jump bail
    the legal process
    • stand/await/bring somebody to/come to/be on trial
    • take somebody to/come to/settle something out of court
    • face/avoid/escape prosecution
    • seek/retain/have the right to/be denied access to legal counsel
    • hold/conduct/attend/adjourn a hearing/trial
    • sit on/influence/persuade/convince/advise a jury
    • stand/appear/be brought before a judge
    • plead guilty/not guilty to a crime
    • be called to/take/put somebody on the stand/the witness stand
    • call/subpoena/question/cross-examine a witness
    • give/hear the evidence against/on behalf of somebody
    • raise/withdraw/overrule an objection
    • reach a unanimous/majority verdict
    • return/deliver/record a verdict of guilty/not guilty
    • convict/acquit the defendant of the crime
    • secure a conviction/your acquittal
    • lodge/file an appeal
    • appeal (against)/challenge/uphold/overturn a conviction/verdict
    sentencing and punishment
    • sentence somebody to 5 years in prison/2 years' probation
    • carry/face/serve a seven-year/life sentence
    • receive/be given the death penalty
    • be sentenced to ten years (in prison/jail)
    • carry/impose/pay a fine (of $3,000)/a penalty (of 14 years' imprisonment)
    • be imprisoned/jailed for drug possession/fraud/murder
    • do/serve time/ten years
    • be sent to/put somebody in/be released from jail/prison
    • be/put somebody/spend 13 years on death row
    • be granted/be denied/violate (your) parole
    • ⇨ more collocations at crime
  2. test
  3. 2[countable, uncountable] the process of testing the ability, quality, or performance of someone or something, especially before you make a final decision about them The new drug is undergoing clinical trials. She agreed to hire me for a trial period. The system was introduced on a trial basis for one month. a trial separation (= of a couple whose marriage is having difficulties) We had the machine on trial for a week. a trial of strength (= a contest to see who is stronger) Topic CollocationsScientific Researchtheory
    • formulate/advance a theory/hypothesis
    • build/construct/create/develop a simple/theoretical/mathematical model
    • develop/establish/provide/use a theoretical/conceptual framework/an algorithm
    • advance/argue/develop the thesis that…
    • explore an idea/a concept/a hypothesis
    • make a prediction/an inference
    • base a prediction/your calculations on something
    • investigate/evaluate/accept/challenge/reject a theory/hypothesis/model
    experiment
    • design an experiment/a questionnaire/a study/a test
    • do research/an experiment/an analysis
    • make observations/calculations
    • take/record measurements
    • carry out/conduct/perform an experiment/a test/a longitudinal study/observations/clinical trials
    • run an experiment/a simulation/clinical trials
    • repeat an experiment/a test/an analysis
    • replicate a study/the results/the findings
    • observe/study/examine/investigate/assess a pattern/a process/a behavior
    • fund/support the research/project/study
    • seek/provide/get/secure funding for research
    results
    • collect/gather/extract data/information
    • yield data/evidence/similar findings/the same results
    • analyze/examine the data/soil samples/a specimen
    • consider/compare/interpret the results/findings
    • fit the data/model
    • confirm/support/verify a prediction/a hypothesis/the results/the findings
    • prove a conjecture/hypothesis/theorem
    • draw/make/reach the same conclusions
    • read/review the records/literature
    • describe/report an experiment/a study
    • present/publish/summarize the results/findings
    • present/publish/read/review/cite a paper in a scientific journal
  4. in sports
  5. 3[countable, usually plural] (also tryout) a competition or series of tests to find the best players for a sports team or an important event Olympic trials
  6. for animals
  7. 4[countable, usually plural] an event at which animals compete or perform horse trials
  8. difficult experience
  9. 5[countable] an experience or a person that causes difficulties for someone the trials and tribulations of married life trial to somebody She was quite a trial to her family at times.
  10. Idioms
    trial and error
     
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    the process of solving a problem by trying various methods until you find a method that is successful Children learn to use computer programs by trial and error.
See trial in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary