trial and error

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
trial and error
    n 1: experimenting until a solution is found
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
trial and error \tri"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 Webster]
from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
47 Moby Thesaurus words for "trial and error":
      R and D, approach, assay, attempt, bid, control,
      control experiment, controlled experiment, crack, cut and try,
      effort, empiricism, endeavor, essay, experiment,
      experimental design, experimental method, experimental proof,
      experimentalism, experimentation, fling, gambit, go, hit and miss,
      lick, move, noble experiment, offer, pragmatism,
      research and development, rule of thumb, shot, stab, step, stroke,
      strong bid, tentative, tentative method, tentativeness, test,
      testing, trial, trial run, try, trying, undertaking, whack
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