Word

theory, n.
(theories)
freq. cnt. 72

a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena
<noun.cognition> freq. cnt.: 49 freq. cnt.: 49

theory

sample sentences

"theories can incorporate facts and laws and tested hypotheses"
"true in fact and theory"

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

theoretic theorist theoretician

semantic pointers

hyponym

reductionism blastogenesis preformation, theory of preformation scientific theory field theory economic theory atomism, atomic theory, atomist theory, atomistic theory holism, holistic theory structuralism, structural sociology structuralism, structural anthropology

hypernym

explanation

part meronym

law, law of nature theory, possibility, hypothesis

a tentative insight into the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena
<noun.cognition> freq. cnt.: 32 freq. cnt.: 18 freq. cnt.: 12 freq. cnt.: 2

hypothesis possibility theory

sample sentences

"a scientific hypothesis that survives experimental testing becomes a scientific theory"
"he proposed a fresh theory of alkalis that later was accepted in chemical practices"

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

theoretic theorist theoretician theorize theorise

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

hypothecate hypothesize

semantic pointers

hypernym

concept, conception, construct

part holonym

theory

hyponym