try.html - {v.} To put (clothing) on to see if it fits. * /She tried on several pairs of shoes before she found one she liked./ * /The clerk told him to try the coat on./

try.html - {v. phr.} To make an inexperienced attempt (at something unfamiliar.) * /I thought I would try my hand at bowling, although I had never bowled before./

try.html - {v. phr.} To try out a recently acquired ability. * /Marjorie just had her twelfth French lesson and wants to try her wings by speaking with our visitors from Paris./

try.html - {v. phr.} 1. To test by trial or by experimenting. * /He tried golf out to see if he would like it./ * /The scientists tried out thousands of chemicals before they found the right one./ * /The coach wants to try the new play out in the first game./ 2. To try for a place on a team or in a group. * /Tom tried out for the basketball team./ * /Shirley will try out for the lead in the play./ Compare: OUT FOR.

try.html - {n.} An audience at a theater or opera for would-be actors and singers. * /The Civic Opera is holding tryouts throughout all of next week. Maybe I'll go and see if I can sing in the chorus./

try.html - 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).

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.

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. [ME, = separate, distinguish, etc., f. OF trier sift, of unkn. orig.]