v.
(tries, trying, tried)
- make an attempt or effort to do something.
▸attempt to open (a door), contact (someone), etc.
▸
(
try for)
attempt to achieve or have:
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they're trying for another baby.
▸
(try something on)
put on an item of clothing to see if it fits or suits one.
-
(also try something out)
test (something new or different) to see if it is suitable, effective, or pleasant.
- make severe demands on:
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Mary tried everyone's patience to the limit.
- subject (someone) to trial.
▸investigate and decide (a case or issue) in a formal trial.
- smooth (wood) with a plane.
n.
(pl. tries)
- an attempt to do or get something.
- a test of something new or different.
- Rugby an act of touching the ball down behind the opposing goal line, scoring points and entitling the scoring side to a kick at goal.
▸American Football an attempt to score an extra point after a touchdown.
Phrase
- tried and tested
(or true)
having proved effective or reliable before. - try one's hand at
attempt to do for the first time. - try it on
Brit. informal - attempt to seduce someone.
- deliberately test someone's patience.
Usage
Try can be followed by either to or and in sentences such as we should try to (or try and) help them. However, some traditionalists regard try and as incorrect, while try to is seen as more appropriate in formal writing. The construction try and is grammatically odd in that it cannot be inflected for tense (e.g. the sentence she tried and fix it is incorrect). For this reason try and is best regarded as a fixed idiom used only in its infinitive and imperative form. See also usage at and.
Etymology
ME: from OFr. trier ‘sift’, of unknown origin.
