try

try
v. & n.
—v. (-ies, -ied)
1 intr. make an effort with a view to success (often foll. by to + infin.; colloq. foll. by and + infin.: tried to be on time; try and be early; I shall try hard).
Usage:
Use with and is uncommon in the past tense and in negative contexts (except in imper.).
2 tr. make an effort to achieve (tried my best; had better try something easier).
3 tr. a test (the quality of a thing) by use or experiment. b test the qualities of (a person or thing) (try it before you buy).
4 tr. make severe demands on (a person, quality, etc.) (my patience has been sorely tried).
5 tr. examine the effectiveness or usefulness of for a purpose (try cold water; try the off-licence; have you tried kicking it?).
6 tr. ascertain the state of fastening of (a door, window, etc.).
7 tr. a investigate and decide (a case or issue) judicially. b subject (a person) to trial (will be tried for murder).
8 tr. make an experiment in order to find out (let us try which takes longest).
9 intr. (foll. by for) a apply or compete for. b seek to reach or attain (am going to try for a gold medal).
10 tr. (often foll. by out) a extract (oil) from fat by heating. b treat (fat) in this way.
11 tr. (often foll. by up) smooth (roughly-planed wood) with a plane to give an accurately flat surface.
—n. (pl. -ies)
1 an effort to accomplish something; an attempt (give it a try).
2 Rugby Football the act of touching the ball down behind the opposing goal-line, scoring points and entitling the scoring side to a kick at goal.
3 Amer. Football an attempt to score an extra point in various ways after a touchdown.
Phrases and idioms:
try conclusions with see CONCLUSION. try a fall with contend with. try for size try out or test for suitability. try one's hand see how skilful one is, esp. at the first attempt. trying-plane a plane used in trying (see sense
11 of v.).
try it on colloq.
1 test another's patience.
2 attempt to outwit or deceive another person. try on put on (clothes etc.) to see if they fit or suit the wearer. try-on n. Brit.
colloq.
1 an act of trying it on.
2 an attempt to fool or deceive.
try out
1 put to the test.
2 test thoroughly. try-out n. an experimental test of efficiency, popularity, etc. try-sail a small strong fore-and-aft sail set on the mainmast or other mast of a sailing-vessel in heavy weather. try-square a carpenter's square, usu. with one wooden and one metal limb.
Etymology: ME, = separate, distinguish, etc., f. OF trier sift, of unkn. orig.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Synonyms:
, , , , , , , / , (by trial) / , / , , , / , / , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

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  • Try — Try, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {tried}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Trying}.] [OE. trien to select, pick out, F. trier to cull, to out, LL. tritare to triturate (hence the sense of, to thresh, to separate the grain from the straw, to select), L. terere, tritum,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • try it on — (informal) To attempt to do something risky or audacious to see how far one can go unscathed • • • Main Entry: ↑try * * * Brit., informal attempt to deceive or seduce someone he was trying it on with my wife ■ deliberately test someone s patience …   Useful english dictionary

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  • Try — Try, a. [Cf. {Try}, v. t.] Refined; select; excellent; choice. [Obs.] Sugar that is try. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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