trial and error

trial and error
experimentation or investigation in which various methods or means are tried and faulty ones eliminated in order to find the correct solution or to achieve the desired result or effect.
[1800-10]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • trial and error — ri al and er ror The method of discovering something desirable by trying many different things until one works; as, the traditional method of finding new drugs is by trial and error. [PJC] And millions miss for one that hits. Swift. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • trial and error — n. the process of making repeated trials or tests, improving the methods used in the light of errors made, until the right result is found trial and error adj …   English World dictionary

  • trial and error — ► trial and error the process of experimenting with various methods until one finds the most successful. Main Entry: ↑trial …   English terms dictionary

  • trial and error — noun experimenting until a solution is found (Freq. 2) • Hypernyms: ↑experiment, ↑experimentation * * * noun : a finding out of the best way to reach a desired result or a correct solution by trying out one or more ways or means and by noting and …   Useful english dictionary

  • Trial and Error — Tri|al and Er|ror 〈[traıəl ənd ɛ̣rə(r)] n.; ; unz.; Päd.; Verhaltensforschung〉 Methode der Problemlösung u. des Lernens, bei der eine Aufgabe nicht durch strategische Vorüberlegung, sondern durch wiederholtes Ausprobieren verschiedener… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • trial-and-error — adjective 1. trying out various means or theories until error is satisfactorily reduced or eliminated he argued that all learning is a trial and error process that resembles biological evolution • Similar to: ↑empirical, ↑empiric 2. relating to… …   Useful english dictionary

  • trial and error —    Attempting to achieve a satisfactory result by testing and eliminating various methods until the best one is found is called trial and error.     Some of the best cooks learn by trial and error …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • trial and error — {n.} A way of solving problems by trying different possible solutions until you find one that works. * /John found the short circuit by trial and error./ * /The only way Tom could solve the algebra problem was by the method of trial and error./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

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