Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Trial \Tri"al\, n. [From {Try}.]
   1. The act of trying or testing in any manner. Specifically:
      
      (a) Any effort or exertion of strength for the purpose of
          ascertaining what can be done or effected.

                [I] defy thee to the trial of mortal fight.
                                                  --Milton.
      (b) The act of testing by experience; proof; test.

                Repeated trials of the issues and events of
                actions.                          --Bp. Wilkins.
      (c) Examination by a test; experiment, as in chemistry,
          metallurgy, etc.

   2. The state of being tried or tempted; exposure to suffering
      that tests strength, patience, faith, or the like;
      affliction or temptation that exercises and proves the
      graces or virtues of men.

            Others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings.
                                                  --Heb. xi. 36.

   3. That which tries or afflicts; that which harasses; that
      which tries the character or principles; that which tempts
      to evil; as, his child's conduct was a sore trial.

            Every station is exposed to some trials. --Rogers.

   4. (Law) The formal examination of the matter in issue in a
      cause before a competent tribunal; the mode of determining
      a question of fact in a court of law; the examination, in
      legal form, of the facts in issue in a cause pending
      before a competent tribunal, for the purpose of
      determining such issue.

   Syn: Test; attempt; endeavor; effort; experiment; proof;
        essay. See {Test}, and {Attempt}.

Source : WordNet®

trial
     n 1: (law) legal proceedings consisting of the judicial
          examination of issues by a competent tribunal; "most of
          these complaints are settled before they go to trial"
     2: the act of testing something; "in the experimental trials
        the amount of carbon was measured separately"; "he called
        each flip of the coin a new trial" [syn: {test}, {run}]
     3: (sports) a preliminary competition to determine
        qualifications; "the trials for the semifinals began
        yesterday"
     4: (law) the determination of a person's innocence or guilt by
        due process of law; "he had a fair trial and the jury
        found him guilty"
     5: trying something to find out about it; "a sample for ten
        days free trial"; "a trial of progesterone failed to
        relieve the pain" [syn: {trial run}, {test}, {tryout}]
     6: an annoying or frustrating or catastrophic event; "his
        mother-in-law's visits were a great trial for him"; "life
        is full of tribulations"; "a visitation of the plague"
        [syn: {tribulation}, {visitation}]
     7: the act of undergoing testing; "he survived the great test
        of battle"; "candidates must compete in a trial of skill"
        [syn: {test}]