Trial vs. Trail

Trial vs. Trail — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Trial and Trail

Trialnoun

An opportunity to test something out; a test.

They will perform the trials for the new equipment next week.

Trailverb

(transitive) To follow behind (someone or something); to tail (someone or something).

The hunters trailed their prey deep into the woods.

Trialnoun

Appearance at judicial court in order to be examined.

Trailverb

(transitive) To drag (something) behind on the ground.

You'll get your coat all muddy if you trail it around like that.

Trialnoun

A difficult or annoying experience.

That boy was a trial to his parents.

Trailverb

(transitive) To leave (a trail of).

He walked into the house, soaking wet, and trailed water all over the place.
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Trialnoun

A tryout to pick members of a team.

soccer trials

Trailverb

(transitive) To show a trailer of (a film, TV show etc.); to release or publish a preview of (a report etc.) in advance of the full publication.

His new film was trailed on TV last night.There were no surprises in this morning's much-trailed budget statement.

Trialnoun

(ceramics) A piece of ware used to test the heat of a kiln.

Trailverb

(intransitive) To hang or drag loosely behind; to move with a slow sweeping motion.

The bride's long dress trailed behind her as she walked down the aisle.

Trialnoun

(UK) An internal examination set by Eton College.

Trailverb

(intransitive) To run or climb like certain plants.

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Trialadjective

Pertaining to a trial or test.

Trailverb

(intransitive) To drag oneself lazily or reluctantly along.

Our parents marched to church and we trailed behind.

Trialadjective

Attempted on a provisional or experimental basis.

Trailverb

To be losing, to be behind in a competition.

Trialadjective

Characterized by having three (usually equivalent) components.

Trailverb

(military) To carry (a firearm) with the breech near the ground and the upper part inclined forward, the piece being held by the right hand near the middle.

Trialadjective

Triple.

Trailverb

To flatten (grass, etc.) by walking through it; to tread down.

Trialadjective

(grammar) Pertaining to a language form referring to three of something, like people; contrast singular, dual and plural. (See Ambai language for an example.)

No language has a trial number unless it has a dual.

Trailverb

(dated) To take advantage of the ignorance of; to impose upon.

Trialverb

To carry out a series of tests on (a new product, procedure etc.) before marketing or implementing it.

The warning system was extensively trialed before being fitted to all our vehicles.

Trailnoun

The track or indication marking the route followed by something that has passed, such as the footprints of animal on land or the contrail of an airplane in the sky.

Trialverb

To try out (a new player) in a sports team.

The team trialled a new young goalkeeper in Saturday's match, with mixed results.

Trailnoun

A route for travel over land, especially a narrow, unpaved pathway for use by hikers, horseback riders, etc.

Trialnoun

(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

Trailnoun

A trailer broadcast on television for a forthcoming film or programme.

Trialnoun

the act of testing something;

in the experimental trials the amount of carbon was measured separatelyhe called each flip of the coin a new trial

Trailnoun

(graph theory) A walk in which all the edges are distinct.

Trialnoun

(sports) a preliminary competition to determine qualifications;

the trials for the semifinals began yesterday

Trailnoun

a track or mark left by something that has passed;

there as a trail of blooda tear left its trail on her cheek

Trialnoun

(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

Trailnoun

a path or track roughly blazed through wild or hilly country

Trialnoun

trying something to find out about it;

a sample for ten days free triala trial of progesterone failed to relieve the pain

Trailnoun

evidence pointing to a possible solution;

the police are following a promising leadthe trail led straight to the perpetrator

Trialnoun

an annoying or frustrating or catastrophic event;

his mother-in-law's visits were a great trial for himlife is full of tribulationsa visitation of the plague

Trailverb

to lag or linger behind;

But in so many other areas we still are dragging

Trialnoun

the act of undergoing testing;

he survived the great test of battlecandidates must compete in a trial of skill

Trailverb

go after with the intent to catch;

The policeman chased the mugger down the alleythe dog chased the rabbit

Trailverb

move, proceed, or walk draggingly pr slowly;

John trailed behind behis class matesThe Mercedes trailed behind the horse cart

Trailverb

hang down so as to drag along the ground;

The bride's veiled trailed along the ground

Trailverb

drag loosely along a surface; allow to sweep the ground;

The toddler was trailing his pantsShe trained her long scarf behind her