1. A short literary composition on a single subject, usually presenting the personal view of the author: Such an essay can be a report or composition which is normally written and of moderate length.

Mrs. Smart asked her students to write an essay about their past summer vacation to be due the following day.
2. Something resembling such a composition; An essay can be a written paper on a certain issue or subject, like a photojournalistic essay.
3. An initial attempt or endeavor, especially a tentative attempt: An essay can be described as a serious and conscientious effort to undertake or to accomplish a task.
4. Etymology: from Middle French essai, "trial, attemp"; from Late Latin exagium, "a weighing, a weight"; from Latin exigere, "to weigh, to measture, to examine"; literally "to drive out"; from ex-, "out" + agere with the apparent meaning here of "to weigh".