probar
transitive verb
1 (demostrar) [+eficacia, inocencia, teoría] to prove
eso probaría la existencia de vida en Marte that would prove the existence of life on Mars
probar que to prove that; ¿cómo puedes probar que no estabas allí? how can you prove that you weren't there?; el juez consideró probado que era culpable the judge considered that he had been proved guilty
2 (poner a prueba) [+sustancia, vacuna, persona] to test; [+método] to try; [+aparato, arma] to test; try out; [+actor, músico] to audition
hemos dejado dinero en el suelo para probarlo we've left some money lying on the floor to test him; prueben su puntería, señoras y señores try your aim, ladies and gentlemen
te dan diez días para probar el vídeo they give you a ten-day trial period for the video; they give you ten days to try out the video
probaron a muchos actores para el papel they auditioned a lot of actors for the part
3 (catar) to try; taste
prueba un poco de este pescado try o taste a bit of this fish
el médico me ha prohibido que pruebe el marisco the doctor says I'm not allowed (to eat) seafood
yo el vino no lo pruebo I never touch o drink wine
llevamos horas sin probar bocado it's hours since we've had a bite to eat
al probar se ve el mosto the proof of the pudding is in the eating
4 [+ropa] (hecha a medida) to fit; (de confección) to try on
¿puede venir mañana a que le pruebe el traje? can you come tomorrow to have your suit fitted?; tengo que ir a la modista a que me pruebe I have to go to the dressmaker for a fitting; te voy a probar este abrigo a ver como te queda I'm going to try this coat on you to see what it looks like
intransitive verb
1 (intentar) to try; have a go
déjame que pruebe yo let me try; let me have a go; ¿has probado con este bolígrafo? have you tried this pen?; probar a hacer algo to try doing sth; he probado a hacerlo yo sola, pero no he podido I tried doing it on my own but I couldn't
con o por probar nada se pierde there's no harm in trying; nothing ventured, nothing gained