Definition of Try

1. Noun. Earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something. "She gave it a good try"


2. Verb. Make an effort or attempt. "They try to move "; "She always seeks to do good in the world"

3. Verb. Put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to. "Test this recipe"
Exact synonyms: Essay, Examine, Prove, Test, Try Out
Generic synonyms: Evaluate, Judge, Pass Judgment
Specialized synonyms: Control, Verify, Float, Field-test
Derivative terms: Examination, Examination, Examination, Examiner, Test, Testing, Trial, Trier, Tryout

4. Verb. Put on trial or hear a case and sit as the judge at the trial of. "They want to try the prisoners "; "The judge tried both father and son in separate trials"
Exact synonyms: Adjudicate, Judge
Generic synonyms: Decide, Determine, Make Up One's Mind
Specialized synonyms: Court-martial
Derivative terms: Adjudicative, Adjudicator, Adjudicatory, Judge, Judge, Judgment, Judgment, Judiciary, Trial, Trier

5. Verb. Take a sample of. "They try more bread"; "Sample the regional dishes"
Exact synonyms: Sample, Taste, Try Out
Generic synonyms: Consume, Have, Ingest, Take, Take In
Specialized synonyms: Degust
Derivative terms: Sample, Sampler, Sampler, Sampler, Taste, Taster, Tasting, Tasting, Trial, Trier, Tryout

6. Verb. Examine or hear (evidence or a case) by judicial process. "The case will be tried in California"
Exact synonyms: Hear
Generic synonyms: Examine, Probe
Specialized synonyms: Rehear, Retry
Derivative terms: Hearing, Trier

7. Verb. Give pain or trouble to. "Sam cannot try Sue "; "I've been sorely tried by these students"
Generic synonyms: Anguish, Hurt, Pain
Derivative terms: Trial

8. Verb. Test the limits of. "You are trying my patience!"
Exact synonyms: Strain, Stress
Generic synonyms: Afflict
Specialized synonyms: Rack
Derivative terms: Strain, Stress, Stress, Stressor

9. Verb. Melt (fat or lard) in order to separate out impurities. "Render fat in a casserole"
Exact synonyms: Render
Category relationships: Cookery, Cooking, Preparation
Generic synonyms: Melt, Melt Down, Run

10. Verb. Put on a garment in order to see whether it fits and looks nice. "They try the cape "; "Try on this sweater to see how it looks"
Exact synonyms: Try On
Generic synonyms: Assume, Don, Get Into, Put On, Wear
Derivative terms: Try-on

Definition of Try

1. v. t. To divide or separate, as one sort from another; to winnow; to sift; to pick out; -- frequently followed by out; as, to try out the wild corn from the good.

2. v. i. To exert strength; to endeavor; to make an effort or an attempt; as, you must try hard if you wish to learn.

3. n. A screen, or sieve, for grain.

4. a. Refined; select; excellent; choice.

5. n. In Rugby and Northern Union football, a score (counting three points) made by grounding the ball on or behind the opponent's goal line; -- so called because it entitles the side making it to a place kick for a goal (counting two points more if successful).

Definition of Try

1. Verb. To attempt. Followed by infinitive. ¹

2. Verb. (obsolete) To separate (precious metal etc.) from the ore by melting; to purify, refine. ¹

3. Verb. To make an experiment. Usually followed by a present participle. ¹

4. Verb. To work on something. ¹

5. Verb. To put to test. ¹

6. Verb. To taste, sample, etc. ¹

7. Verb. To put on trial. ¹

8. Verb. (nautical) To lie to in heavy weather under just sufficient sail to head into the wind. ¹

9. Noun. An attempt. ¹

10. Noun. An act of tasting or sampling. ¹

11. Noun. (rugby) A score in rugby, analogous to a touchdown in American football. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Try

1. to attempt [v TRIED, TRYING, TRIES] - See also: attempt

Medical Definition of Try

1. 1. To divide or separate, as one sort from another; to winnow; to sift; to pick out; frequently followed by out; as, to try out the wild corn from the good. 2. To purify or refine, as metals; to melt out, and procure in a pure state, as oil, tallow, lard, etc. "The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times." (Ps. Xii. 6) "For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried." (Ps. Lxvi. 10) 3. To prove by experiment; to apply a test to, for the purpose of determining the quality; to examine; to prove; to test; as, to try weights or measures by a standard; to try a man's opinions. "Let the end try the man." (Shak) 4. To subject to severe trial; to put to the test; to cause suffering or trouble to. "Thus far to try thee, Adam, I was pleased." (Milton) These are the times that try men's souls. (Thomas Paine (1776) 5. To experiment with; to test by use; as, to try a remedy for disease; to try a horse. "Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen me." (Shak) "To ease her cares the force of sleep she tries." (Swift) 6. To strain; to subject to excessive tests; as, the light tries his eyes; repeated disappointments try one's patience. 7. To examine or investigate judicially; to examine by witnesses or other judicial evidence and the principles of law; as, to try a cause, or a criminal. 8. To settle; to decide; to determine; specifically, to decide by an appeal to arms; as, to try rival claims by a duel; to try conclusions. "Left I the court, to see this quarrel tried." (Shak) 9. To experience; to have or gain knowledge of by experience. "Or try the Libyan heat or Scythian cold." (Dryden) 10. To essay; to attempt; to endeavor. "Let us try . . . To found a path." (Milton) To try on. To put on, as a garment, to ascertain whether it fits the person. To attempt; to undertake. Synonym: To attempt, endeavor, strive, aim, examine. Try, Attempt. To try is the generic, to attempt is the specific, term. When we try, we are usually uncertain as to success; when we attempt, we have always some definite object in view which we seek to accomplish. We may be indifferent as to the result of a trial, but we rarely attempt anything without a desire to succeed. "He first deceased: she for a little tried To live without him; liked it not, and died." (Sir H. Wotton) "Alack, I am afraid they have a waked, And 't is not done. The attempt, and not the deed, Confounds us." (Shak) Origin: 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, to rub, bruise, grind, thresh. See Trite. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Try

truthmaking
truthness
truths
truthsome
truthteller
truthtellers
truthtelling
truthward
truthwards
truthy
trutination
trutinations
truttaceous
truxilline
truxillines
try (current term)
try-hard
try-hards
try-in
try-on
try for
try on
try one's hand
try one's luck
try out
try out one's own chops
try square
tryal
tryals
trye

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