a short literary composition on a particular theme or subject, usually in prose and generally analytic, speculative, or interpretative.

anything resembling such a composition

a picture essay.

an effort to perform or accomplish something; attempt.

Philately . a design for a proposed stamp differing in any way from the design of the stamp as issued.

Obsolete . a tentative effort; trial; assay.

to try; attempt.

to put to the test; make trial of.

noun

idleness , pass

verb

be idle , forget , neglect , pass

noun

article , composition , discussion , disquisition , dissertation , explication , exposition , manuscript , paper , piece , study , theme , thesis , tract , treatise , aim , bid , dry run * , effort , endeavor , exertion , experiment , hassle , labor , one’s all , one’s level best , shot * , striving , struggle , test , toil , travail , trial , try on * , tryout , undertaking , venture , whack * , work , assay , proof , crack , go , offer , stab , try , attempt , belles lettres , discourse , exegesis , festschrift

verb

aim , assay , endeavor , have a crack , have a go , have a shot , have at it , labor , make a run at , offer , put to the test , seek , strive , struggle , take a stab at , take a whack at , take on , test , toil , travail , try out , undertake , venture , work , try , check , examine , prove , article , composition , critique , dissertation , editorial , exposition , narrative , paper , piece , story , theme , thesis , treatise , writing