try

try
verb (tries, trying, tried)
1》 make an attempt or effort to do something.
    ↘attempt to open (a door), contact (someone), etc.
    ↘(try for) attempt to achieve or have: they're trying for another baby.
    ↘(try something on) put on an item of clothing to see if it fits or suits one.
2》 (also try something out) test (something new or different) to see if it is suitable, effective, or pleasant.
3》 make severe demands on: Mary tried everyone's patience to the limit.
4》 subject (someone) to trial.
    ↘investigate and decide (a case or issue) in a formal trial.
5》 smooth (wood) with a plane.
noun (plural tries)
1》 an attempt to do or get something.
2》 a test of something new or different.
3》 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.
Phrases
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
1》 attempt to seduce someone.
2》 deliberately test someone's patience.
Origin
ME: from OFr. trier 'sift', of unknown origin.
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.

English new terms dictionary. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • try to — try and, try to 1. Try, like come and go, can be followed by and + verb instead of by a to infinitive: • Try and survive, try and live with the system Gerald Seymour, 1983. This use is somewhat more informal than the construction with to, and… …   Modern English usage

  • Try — «Try» Сингл P!nk из альбома The Truth About Love Сторон …   Википедия

  • Try — Try, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {tried}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Trying}.] [OE. trien to select, pick out, F. trier to cull, to out, LL. tritare to triturate (hence the sense of, to thresh, to separate the grain from the straw, to select), L. terere, tritum,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • try — ► VERB (tries, tried) 1) make an attempt or effort to do something. 2) (also try out) test (something new or different) in order to see if it is suitable, effective, or pleasant. 3) attempt to open (a door), contact (someone), etc. 4) (try on)… …   English terms dictionary

  • 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… …   English World dictionary

  • try — vt tried, try·ing [Anglo French trier to choose, sort, ascertain, examine judicially, from Old French, to choose, sort] 1: to examine or investigate judicially no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United… …   Law dictionary

  • try — interj. kartojant nusakomas smarkus dūdavimas, trimitavimas: Padūduok, Jonai. – Nemoku, ponai. – Bizūnas Jonui. – Try try try ponui LLDI145(Dgč). Trimitas try try try, tū tū tū Tršk …   Dictionary of the Lithuanian Language

  • try — [n] attempt all one’s got*, best shot*, bid, crack*, dab, effort, endeavor, essay, fling*, go*, jab*, pop*, shot*, slap*, stab*, striving, struggle, trial, undertaking, whack*, whirl*; concepts 87,677 Ant. abstention try [v1] attempt aim, aspire …   New thesaurus

  • try it on — (informal) To attempt to do something risky or audacious to see how far one can go unscathed • • • Main Entry: ↑try * * * Brit., informal attempt to deceive or seduce someone he was trying it on with my wife ■ deliberately test someone s patience …   Useful english dictionary

  • Try — Try, v. i. 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! [Prov. Eng.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Try — Try, a. [Cf. {Try}, v. t.] Refined; select; excellent; choice. [Obs.] Sugar that is try. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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