try

try [trī]

vt.

tried, trying [ME trien < OFr trier < ? VL * tritare, to cull out, grind < L tritus, pp. of terere, to rub, thresh grain: see TRITE]

1. Obs. to separate; set apart

2.

a) to melt or render (fat, etc.) to get (the oil)

b) to extract or refine (metal, etc.) by heating: usually with

3. out

4. Now Rare to settle (a matter, quarrel, etc.) by a test or contest; fight out

5.

a) to examine and decide (a case) in a law court

b) to determine legally the guilt or innocence of (a person)

c) to preside as judge at the trial of (a case or person)

6. to put to the proof; test

7. to subject to trials, annoyance, etc.; afflict [Job was sorely tried]

8. to subject to a severe test or strain [rigors that try one's stamina]

9. to test the operation or effect of; experiment with; make a trial of [to try a new recipe]

10. to attempt to find out or determine by experiment or effort [to try one's fortune in another city]

11. to make an effort at; attempt; endeavor: followed by an infinitive [try to remember ] or, informally, by and used in place of to as the sign of the infinitive [try and remember ]

12. to attempt to open (a door or window) in testing to see whether it is locked

13. Obs. to find to be so by test or experience; prove

vi.

1. to make an effort, attempt, or endeavor

2. to make an experiment

n.

pl. tries

1. the act or an instance of trying; attempt; effort; trial

2. Rugby a scoring play in which the ball is grounded on or behind the opponent's goal line

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try on

to test the fit or appearance of (an item of clothing, jewelry, etc.) by putting it on

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try one's hand at

to attempt (to do something), esp. for the first time

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try out

☆ 1. to test the quality, result, value, etc. of, as by putting to use; experiment with

☆ 2. to test one's fitness, as for a job, a place on an athletic team, a role in a play, etc.

SYN.- TRY is commonly the simple, direct word for putting forth effort to do something [try to come ], but specifically it connotes experimentation in testing or proving something [I'll try your recipe ]; ATTEMPT, somewhat more formal, suggests a setting out to accomplish something but often connotes failure [he had attempted to take his life ]; ENDEAVOR suggests exertion and determined effort in the face of difficulties [we shall endeavor to recover your loss ]; ESSAY connotes a tentative experimenting to test the feasibility of something difficult [she will not essay the high jump ]; STRIVE suggests great, earnest exertion to accomplish something [strive to win ]; STRUGGLE suggests a violent striving to overcome obstacles or to free oneself from an impediment [I struggled to reach the top ]