trail vs trial

This post is an entry where is discussed some elementary English. If you have a doubt about the meaning of a word or if you get confused by the sound of two similar words, why not to write a post?

TRAIL /treɪl/
noun
1. a rough path across countryside or through a forest.
2. a long line or a series of marks that have been left by someone or something
3. a stream of dust, smoke, light, people, vehicles, etc., behind something moving.

Examples:
• Condensation trails or vapour trails are long thin artificial clouds that sometimes form behind aircraft.
• The worst-ever floods in Pakistan’s history have left a trail of death and devastation

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TRIAL /ˈtraɪəl/
noun
1. a legal process in which a judge in a court decides whether someone is guilty of a crime
2. a process of testing to find out whether something works effectively and is safe
3. a short period during which you do something or employ someone to find out whether they are satisfactory for a particular purpose [= probation]

Examples:
• New drugs must undergo clinical trials to test safety and effectiveness before being approved for sale.
• Somebody says that the human learning process follows the trials and errors method.
• I have been working in Accenture on a trial period of two weeks.