1. A piece of writing: This is the most common meaning. An essay is a short piece of writing that expresses a particular point of view or argument on a specific topic. Essays can be formal or informal, and they can be written for a variety of purposes, such as academic assignments, personal reflection, or persuasive writing.
2. To try or attempt: In this sense, "essay" is a verb meaning to attempt or try something. For example, "He essayed a smile."
3. To test or try: This meaning is often used in the context of a test or trial. For example, "The engineers essayed a new design for the bridge."
4. A trial or attempt: This is similar to the verb meaning, but used as a noun. For example, "The experiment was a successful essay."
In most cases, "essay" refers to a piece of writing. However, depending on the context, it can also have other meanings related to attempting or testing something.