<p><strong>Noun:</strong></p><ul><li>a short literary composition on a particular theme or subject, usually in prose and generally analytic, speculative, or interpretative.</li><li>anything resembling such a composition: a picture essay.</li><li>an effort to perform or accomplish something; attempt.</li><li>Philately. a design for a proposed stamp differing in any way from the design of the stamp as issued.</li><li>Obsolete. a tentative effort; trial; assay.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb (used with object):</strong></p><ul><li>to try; attempt.</li><li>to put to the test; make trial of.</li></ul>