{
    "term": "trial",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "b2",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "a formal examination of evidence in court by a judge and often a jury, to decide if somebody accused of a crime is guilty or not",
            "sensetop": "on trial",
            "labels": "(especially North American English)(especially US English)(especially North American English)(British English)(North American English)(figurative)",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a **murder/criminal trial**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He's on trial for murder.",
                    "contextForm": "on trial"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She will **stand trial/go on trial** for fraud."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He should have been arrested and **put on trial**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He **was facing trial** on a murder charge."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The men were arrested but not **brought to trial**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She **is awaiting trial** on corruption charges."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He did not receive a **fair trial**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "the right to **trial by jury**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She was detained without trial."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a **trial judge/lawyer/court**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She became a key witness in the trial."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They will lose their right to a **jury trial**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A series of show trials of former senior officials of the ousted regime took place."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A trial date has been set for May 10."
                },
                {
                    "text": "More than a hundred witnesses gave evidence at the trial."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Opposition leaders had been jailed without trial."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She faces trial for murder."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The judge halted the trial when it emerged witnesses had been threatened."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The judge ordered a new trial on the grounds that evidence had been withheld."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The letters that were shown during his trial turned out to be forgeries."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The rebels were brutally executed after summary trials."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The trial collapsed after a key prosecution witness admitted lying."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The president faces trial by television tonight when he takes part in a live debate."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The case never came to trial."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He will go to trial on charges of robbery and assault."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Parker was committed for trial yesterday at Southwark Crown Court."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A trial date will be set for sometime in the spring."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Law and justice"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["fair", "unfair", "full"],
                "verb + trial": ["come to", "face", "go on"],
                "trial + verb": ["proceed", "take place", "begin"],
                "trial + noun": ["attorney", "court", "judge"],
                "preposition": ["at the trial", "during the trial", "on trial"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "the process of testing the ability, quality or performance of somebody/something, especially before you make a final decision about them",
            "sensetop": "on trial",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a **field/randomized/controlled trial**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Australia and the US have **conducted** joint **trials** of the drone."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She agreed to employ me for **a trial period**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We had the machine on trial for a week.",
                    "contextForm": "on trial"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The system was introduced **on a trial basis** for one month."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a trial separation *(= of a couple whose marriage is in difficulties)*"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a trial of strength *(= a contest to see who is stronger)*"
                },
                {
                    "text": "A new stocktaking system is currently under trial at the supermarket."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There's a 30-day free trial of the software available."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Human trials of the vaccine could begin within two years."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The trial showed a dramatic reduction in side effects."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a trial involving hundreds of patients"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Scientists have reported encouraging results in trials of the new GM rice."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Scientific research"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["clinical", "experimental", "field"],
                "verb + trial": ["carry out", "conduct", "do"],
                "trial + verb": [
                    "demonstrate something",
                    "show something",
                    "find something"
                ],
                "trial + noun": ["period", "run", "data"],
                "preposition": ["on trial", "under trial"],
                "phrases": ["on a trial basis", "trial by fire", "trial and error"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "a competition or series of tests to find the best players for a sports team or an important event",
            "labels": "North American English also",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Olympic trials"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He had a trial with Chelsea when he was young."
                },
                {
                    "text": "As a teenager, he had trials for several top clubs."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She just missed selection when she came third in the trials."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Gates played his second trial game in midfield."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["clinical", "experimental", "field"],
                "verb + trial": ["carry out", "conduct", "do"],
                "trial + verb": [
                    "demonstrate something",
                    "show something",
                    "find something"
                ],
                "trial + noun": ["period", "run", "data"],
                "preposition": ["on trial", "under trial"],
                "phrases": ["on a trial basis", "trial by fire", "trial and error"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "an event at which animals compete or perform",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "horse trials"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "an experience or a person that causes difficulties for somebody",
            "sensetop": "trial to somebody",
            "labels": "(figurative)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "the **trials and tribulations** of married life"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She was a sore trial to her family at times.",
                    "contextForm": "trial to somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "My first day at work was a **trial by fire**."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["real"],
                "preposition": ["trial to"],
                "phrases": ["trials and tribulations"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "the process of solving a problem by trying various methods until you find a method that is successful",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Children learn to use computer programs **by trial and error**."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈtraɪəl/",
                "audio": "tr/trial/trial__gb_2.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈtraɪəl/",
                "audio": "tr/trial/trial__us_2.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "late Middle English (as a noun): from Anglo-Norman French, or from medieval Latin triallum. The verb dates from the 1980s."
}