try(n = noun.act) attempt, effort, endeavor, endeavour - earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something; "made an effort to cover all the reading material"; "wished him luck in his endeavor"; "she gave it a good try"
is a kind of activity
has particulars: batting, best, worst, bid, play, crack, fling, go, offer, pass, whirl, essay, foray, contribution, part, share, liberation, mug's game, power play, squeeze, squeeze play, seeking, shot, stab, shot, nisus, pains, strain, striving, battle, struggle, takeover attempt, run, test, trial, test, trial
Derived form verb try₁

1.  try(v = verb.social) assay, attempt, essay, seek - make an effort or attempt; "He tried to shake off his fears"; "The infant had essayed a few wobbly steps"; "The police attempted to stop the thief"; "He sought to improve himself"; "She always seeks to do good in the world"
is one way to act, move
Derived forms noun trier₂, noun try₁
Sample sentences: They try to move

2.  try(v = verb.social) essay, examine, prove, test, try out - put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to; "This approach has been tried with good results"; "Test this recipe"
is one way to evaluate, judge, pass judgment
Derived forms noun trial₃, noun trier₂
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something

3.  try(v = verb.social) adjudicate, judge - put on trial or hear a case and sit as the judge at the trial of; "The football star was tried for the murder of his wife"; "The judge tried both father and son in separate trials"
is one way to decide, determine, make up one's mind
Derived forms noun trial₄, noun trier₁
Sample sentences: They want to try the prisoners

4.  try(v = verb.consumption) sample, taste, try out - take a sample of; "Try these new crackers"; "Sample the regional dishes"
is one way to consume, have, ingest, take, take in
Derived forms noun trial₂, noun trier₂
Sample sentences: They try more bread

5.  try(v = verb.social) hear - examine or hear (evidence or a case) by judicial process; "The jury had heard all the evidence"; "The case will be tried in California"
is one way to examine, probe
Derived form noun trier₁
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something

6.  try(v = verb.emotion) - give pain or trouble to; "I've been sorely tried by these students"
is one way to anguish, hurt, pain
Derived form noun trial₆
Sample sentences: Sam cannot try Sue

7.  try(v = verb.emotion) strain, stress - test the limits of; "You are trying my patience!"
is one way to afflict
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something; Something ----s something

8.  try(v = verb.change) render - melt (fat or lard) in order to separate out impurities; "try the yak butter"; "render fat in a casserole"
is one way to melt, melt down, run
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something

9.  try(v = verb.body) try on - put on a garment in order to see whether it fits and looks nice; "Try on this sweater to see how it looks"
is one way to assume, don, get into, put on, wear
Sample sentences: They try the cape

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. Sir T. Elyot. [1913 Webster]

2.  To purify or refine, as metals; to melt out, and procure in a pure state, as oil, tallow, lard, etc. Shak. [1913 Webster]
"The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times." [1913 Webster]
"For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried." [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]
"Let the end try the man." [1913 Webster]

4.  To subject to severe trial; to put to the test; to cause suffering or trouble to. [1913 Webster]
"Thus far to try thee, Adam, I was pleased." [1913 Webster]
"These are the times that try men's souls." [PJC]

5.  To experiment with; to test by use; as, to try a remedy for disease; to try a horse. [1913 Webster]
"Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen me." [1913 Webster]
"To ease her cares the force of sleep she tries." [1913 Webster]

6.  To strain; to subject to excessive tests; as, the light tries his eyes; repeated disappointments try one's patience. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]
"Left I the court, to see this quarrel tried." [1913 Webster]

9.  To experience; to have or gain knowledge of by experience. Milton. [1913 Webster]
"Or try the Libyan heat or Scythian cold." [1913 Webster]

10.  To essay; to attempt; to endeavor. [1913 Webster]
"Let us try . . . to found a path." [1913 Webster]
"He first deceased: she for a little tried
To live without him; liked it not, and died." [1913 Webster]
"Alack, I am afraid they have a waked,
And 't is not done. The attempt, and not the deed,
Confounds us." [1913 Webster]

1.  To exert strength; to endeavor; to make an effort or an attempt; as, you must try hard if you wish to learn. [1913 Webster]

2.  To do; to fare; as, how do you try! [1913 Webster]

1.  A screen, or sieve, for grain. Holland. [1913 Webster]

2.  Act of trying; attempt; experiment; trial. [1913 Webster]
"This breaking of his has been but a try for his friends." [1913 Webster]

3.  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). [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

   Refined; select; excellent; choice. Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

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).

Idiom:
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.

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.

Etymology:
ME, = separate, distinguish, etc., f. OF trier sift, of unkn. orig.

VB  try, essay, experiment, endeavor, strive, tempt, attempt, make an attempt, venture, adventure, speculate, take one's chance, tempt fortune, try one's fortune, try one's luck, try one's hand, use one's endeavor, feel one's way, grope one's way, pick one's way, try hard, push, make a bold push, use one's best endeavor, do one's best.

VB  use, make use of, employ, put to use, put in action, put in operation, put in practice, set in motion, set to work, ply, work, wield, handle, manipulate, play, play off, exert, exercise, practice, avail oneself of, profit by, resort to, have recourse to, recur to, take betake oneself to, take up with, take advantage of, lay one's hands on, try, render useful, mold, turn to account, turn to use, convert to use, utilize, work up, call into play, bring into play, put into requisition, call forth, draw forth, press into service, enlist into the service, bring to bear upon, devote, dedicate, consecrate, apply, adhibit, dispose of, make a handle of, make a cat's-paw of, fall back upon, make a shift with, make the most of, make the best of, use up, swallow up, consume, absorb, expend, tax, task, wear, put to task.

VB  go to law, appeal to the law, bring to justice, bring to trial, bring to the bar, put on trial, pull up, accuse, prefer a claim, file a claim, take the law of, inform against, serve with a writ, cite, apprehend, arraign, sue, prosecute, bring an action against, indict, impeach, attach, distrain, commit, arrest, summon, summons, give in charge, empanel a jury, implead, join issue, close the pleadings, set down for hearing, try, hear a cause, sit in judgment, adjudicate.

VB  experiment, essay, try, try out, assay, make an experiment, make a trial of, give a trial to, put on trial, subject to trial, experiment upon, rehearse, put to the test, bring to the test, submit to the test, submit to the proof, prove, verify, test, touch, practice upon, try one's strength, road-test, test drive, take for a spin, test fly, grope, feel one's way, grope for one's way, fumble, t=atonner, aller =a t=atons, put out a feeler, throw out a feeler, send up a trial balloon, send up a pilot balloon, see how the land lies, get the lay of the land, test the waters, feel out, sound out, take the pulse, see, check, check out, see how the wind blows, consult the barometer, feel the pulse, fish for, bob for, cast for, beat about for, angle, trawl, cast one's net, beat the bushes, try one's fortune, explore.

VB  judge, conclude, come to a conclusion, draw a conclusion, arrive at a conclusion, ascertain, determine, make up one's mind, deduce, derive, gather, collect, draw an inference, make a deduction, weet, ween, form an estimate, estimate, appreciate, value, count, assess, rate, rank, account, regard, consider, think of, look upon, review, size up, settle, pass an opinion, give an opinion, decide, try, pronounce, rule, pass judgment, pass sentence, sentence, doom, find, give judgment, deliver judgment, adjudge, adjudicate, arbitrate, award, report, bring in a verdict, make absolute, set a question at rest, confirm, comment, criticize, kibitz, pass under review, investigate, hold the scales, sit in judgment, try judgment, hear a cause.

give it a try, try cock, try for, try on, try out, try square