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field trial

American  

noun

  1. a competition among sporting dogs under natural conditions in the field, in which the animals are judged on the basis of excellence of performance in hunting.

  2. a trial of a new product or procedure to determine its efficiency or usefulness in actual performance.


field trial British  

noun

  1. hunting a test of or contest between gun dogs to determine their proficiency and standard of training in retrieving or pointing

  2. (often plural) a test to display performance, efficiency, or durability, as of a vehicle or invention

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of field trial

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Nevertheless, "the results of this field trial represent a big step toward a more sustainable agriculture," concludes Marcel van der Heijden.

From Science Daily Nov. 30, 2023

In early 2021 Keith and Frank Keutsch, an atmospheric chemist at Harvard, were planning the first SRM field trial.

From Scientific American Sep. 20, 2023

A first step toward a vessel slowdown initiative is a field trial for the hydrophones to help determine when orcas are in the area.

From Seattle Times Mar. 25, 2022

In late April, Cathie Martin told me that the U.S.D.A. had recently updated its regulations to allow more G.M.O. plants to be grown outside, without a three-year field trial or in tightly contained greenhouses.

From New York Times Jul. 20, 2021

The Duchess of Hamilton's kennels have been responsible for some of the best field trial winners of the present day.

From Dogs and All about Them by Leighton, Robert

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