Dictionary
es•say
Pronunciation: (
—n.es'ā for 1, 2; es'ā, e-sā' for 3–5;
—v. e-sā'), [key]—
n.
1. a short literary composition on a particular theme or subject, usually in prose and generally analytic, speculative, or interpretative.
2. anything resembling such a composition:
a picture essay.
3. an effort to perform or accomplish something; attempt.
4. Philately.a design for a proposed stamp differing in any way from the design of the stamp as issued.
5. Obs.a tentative effort; trial; assay.
—
v.t.
1. to try; attempt.
2. to put to the test; make trial of.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.