essay

1 a short piece of writing typically expressing a point of view school essays on what it means to be a patriot Synonyms article, composition, paper, theme Related Words causerie; column, commentary, editorial, feature, report, review, write-up; dissertation, thesis; tract, treatise; discourse, discussion, exposition, prolegomenon, study

2 an effort to do or accomplish something my first essay at baking a cake did not go well Synonyms assay [archaic], bash [chiefly British], bid, crack, endeavor, attempt, fling, go, offer, pass, shot, stab, trial, try, whack, whirlRelated Words striving, struggle, throes, undertaking; trial and error

3 a procedure or operation carried out to resolve an uncertainty a little homemade essay to determine the easiest way to strip the paint from the bookcase Synonyms experiment, experimentation, test, trialRelated Words trial and error; dry run, shakedown; exercise, practice (also practise), rehearsal, tryout, workout; crucible, ordeal; attempt, effort, try

to make an effort to do he had been in gymnastics for some time before he even considered essaying that move Synonyms assay, endeavor, attempt, seek, strive, tryRelated Words fight, strain, struggle, toil, trouble, work; aim, aspire, hope; assume, take up, undertakeNear Antonyms drop, give up, quit