Dictionary

theory en · NOUN

Pronunciation

/ˈθɪɚ.i/ (US) without the mirror–nearer merger
(General-American) audio
/ˈθi.ɹɪ/ (Scotland)
/ˈt̪ʰɪjɵri/ (South-Asia)
/ˈθi.ɹi/ (US) without the mirror–nearer merger
/ˈθɪ.ɹi/ (General-American)
/ˈθi.ɹe/ (Scotland)
/ˈθi.ə.ɹi/ (General-American)
/ˈθɛː.ɹi/ East Anglia, cheer–chair merger
/ˈθiə.ɹi/ (New-Zealand)
/ˈθɪə.ɹi/ (Australia, Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Hellenic *tʰáwā Ancient Greek θέᾱ (théā) Proto-Indo-European *wer-der. Proto-Indo-European *h₃ekʷ-der. Proto-Indo-European *weyd-der. Ancient Greek ὁράω (horáō) Ancient Greek *θεᾱ-(ϝ)ορός, *θεη-(ϝ)ορός (*theā-(w)orós, *theē-(w)orós) Ancient Greek θεωρός (theōrós) Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-i-eh₂ Proto-Hellenic *-íā Ancient Greek -ῐ́ᾱ (-ĭ́ā) Ancient Greek θεωρία (theōría)bor. Late Latin theōrialbor. Middle French théoriebor. English theory Borrowed from Middle French théorie, a learned borrowing from Late Latin theōria, borrowed from Ancient Greek θεωρία (theōría), from θεωρός (theōrós, “spectator”) + -ῐ́ᾱ (-ĭ́ā).

Meanings

(countable, uncountable) A description of an event or system that is considered to be accurate.
- As they encrease the hatred of vice in some, so doe they enlarge the theory of wickednesse in all. 1646, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica, VII.19:
(countable, uncountable) A coherent statement or set of ideas that explains observed facts or phenomena and correctly predicts new facts or phenomena not previously observed, or which sets out the laws and principles of something known or observed; a hypothesis confirmed by observation, experiment etc.
- Scientists and creationists are understanding the word "theory" in two very different senses. Evolution is a theory in the same sense as the heliocentric theory. In neither case should the word "only" be used, as in "only a theory". 2009, Richard Dawkins, The Greatest Show On Earth: The Evidence for Evolution, Bantam, page 10:
- The world would need additional decades [...] before the Big Bang would begin to move from interesting idea to established theory. 2003, Bill Bryson, A Short History of Nearly Everything, BCA, page 118:
- Some of the most beautiful and thus appealing physical theories, including quantum electrodynamics and quantum gravity, have been dogged for decades by infinities that erupt when theorists try to prod their calculations into new domains. Getting rid of these nagging infinities has probably occupied far more effort than was spent in originating the theories. 2012 January 14, Michael Riordan, “Tackling Infinity”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 1, archived from the original on 30 Apr 2013, page 86:
- In its most proper acceptation, theory means the completed result of philosophical induction from experience. 1843, John Stuart Mill, ""A System of Logic, Ratiocinative and Inductive, ..., Bk V, Ch 7
- Does this mean, then, that there can be no such thing as a theory of literature? 1990, Tony Bennett, Outside Literature, page 139:
- It was only when Einstein's theory of relativity was published in 1915 that physicists could show that Mercury's "anomaly" was actually because Newton's gravitational theory was incomplete. 2002 May 23, Duncan Steel, The Guardian:
(uncountable) The underlying principles or methods of a given technical skill, art etc., as opposed to its practice.
- Lopukhov wrote a number of books and articles on ballet theory, as well as his memoirs. 1998, Elizabeth Souritz, The Great History of Russian Ballet:
(countable, uncountable) A field of study attempting to exhaustively describe a particular class of constructs.
- The theory is that by stripping costs to the bone, they are able to offer ludicrously low fares. 2003 June 21, Sean Coughlan, The Guardian:
- Knot theory classifies the mappings of a circle into 3-space.
- It's just a theory I have, and I wonder if women would agree. But don't men say a lot about themselves when a short-skirted woman slides out of a car or chair? 1999, Wes DeMott, Vapors:
(countable) A set of axioms together with all statements derivable from them; or, a set of statements which are deductively closed. Equivalently, a formal language plus a set of axioms (from which can then be derived theorems). The statements may be required to all be bound (i.e., to have no free variables).
- A theory is consistent if it has a model.
(countable, qualifier:chess and similar games, uncountable) The standardization and study of fixed sequences of moves, especially in the opening phase of a game.
- Near-synonym: joseki
(countable, obsolete, uncountable) Mental conception; reflection, consideration.
(countable, informal, uncountable) A hypothesis or conjecture.

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
theories	Number=Plur		lexicographic

Hyponyms

Meronyms

axioms (in logic)

theoretical · postulate · theorem · proposition · theorise · axiom · theorize

Synonyms

joseki

Translations (212)

de Theorie (a field of study in mathematics) · ms teori (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · nn teori (a field of study in mathematics) · ko 이론 (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · ja 推測 (an unproven conjecture) · cmn 學說 /学说 (a field of study in mathematics) · mga téoir (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · ja 見解 (an unproven conjecture) · hi नज़रिया (an unproven conjecture) · de Theorie (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · oc teoria (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · ga teoiric (in logic: a set of axioms and all statements derivable from them) · cy damcaniaeth (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · de Theorie (an unproven conjecture) · pl teoria (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · th ทฤษฎี (an unproven conjecture) · de Theorie (in logic: a set of axioms and all statements derivable from them) · fa-ira نَظَرِیِه (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · hy տեսություն (an unproven conjecture) · ko 정리 (in logic: a set of axioms and all statements derivable from them) · ru тео́рия (an unproven conjecture) · ja 推論 (an unproven conjecture) · el θεωρία (a field of study in mathematics) · ms teori (in logic: a set of axioms and all statements derivable from them) · es teoría (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · th ทฤษฎี (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · cy theori (a field of study in mathematics) · ja 憶測 (an unproven conjecture) · sh tèōrija (an unproven conjecture) · ca teoria (an unproven conjecture) · tr teori (in logic: a set of axioms and all statements derivable from them) · sga teöir (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · uz nazariya (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · vi lý luận (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · it teoria (in logic: a set of axioms and all statements derivable from them) · be гіпо́тэза (an unproven conjecture) · ja 理論 (a field of study in mathematics) · cs teorie (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · fi oppi (a field of study in mathematics) · mr सिद्धांत (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · mi ariā (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · tk teoriýa (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · ja 定理 (a field of study in mathematics) · gl teoría (a field of study in mathematics) · ur نَظَرِیَہ (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · ady тиориэ (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · nl theorie (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · mn онол (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · hu elmélet (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · sv teori (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · vo teorod (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · fr théorie (a field of study in mathematics) · ko 학설 (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · cs teorie (a field of study in mathematics) · da teori (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · hi सिद्धांत (a field of study in mathematics) · hy տեսություն (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · mt teorija (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · nl theorie (an unproven conjecture) · ca teoria (a field of study in mathematics) · lv teorija (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · vi học thuyết (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · sh тѐо̄рија (a field of study in mathematics) · ky теория (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · id teori (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · uk тео́рія (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · ro teorie (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · cy damcaniaeth (an unproven conjecture) · tr kuram (in logic: a set of axioms and all statements derivable from them) · mk теорија (a field of study in mathematics) · mt teorija (a field of study in mathematics) · grc θεωρία (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · gd beachd-smaoin (an unproven conjecture) · id teori (a field of study in mathematics) · yi טעאָריע (an unproven conjecture) · tr kuram (a field of study in mathematics) · ru тео́рия (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · fi teoria (an unproven conjecture) · kbd тиориэ (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · gl teoría (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · uk гіпо́теза (an unproven conjecture) · fa-ira تِئوری (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · tg теория (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · sh тѐо̄рија (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · it teoria (an unproven conjecture) · gl teoría (in logic: a set of axioms and all statements derivable from them) · ga teoiric (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · ar نَظَرِيَّة (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · tr kuram (an unproven conjecture) · km ទ្រឹស្ដី (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · ps نظريه (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · id teori (an unproven conjecture) · tr nazariye (an unproven conjecture) · tr kuram (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · mga teoiricecht (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · pl teoria (a field of study in mathematics) · ja 学説 (a field of study in mathematics) · sh tèōrija (a field of study in mathematics) · ml സിദ്ധാന്തം (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · hy թեորիա (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · mt teorija (an unproven conjecture) · sh тѐо̄рија (an unproven conjecture) · da teori (a field of study in mathematics) · ga teoiric (an unproven conjecture) · ug نەزەرىيە (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · cmn 理論 /理论 (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · tr nazariye (obsolecent) (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · ga teoiric (a field of study in mathematics) · cmn 理論 /理论 (a field of study in mathematics) · cmn 學說 /学说 (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · sh tèōrija (in logic: a set of axioms and all statements derivable from them) · he תּוֹרָה (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · cs teorie (in logic: a set of axioms and all statements derivable from them) · sh tèōrija (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · be тэо́рыя (an unproven conjecture) · ja 学説 (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · bg тео́рия (an unproven conjecture) · eo teorio (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · bg тео́рия (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · da teori (an unproven conjecture) · nl theorie (a field of study in mathematics) · vi lý thuyết (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · id teori (in logic: a set of axioms and all statements derivable from them) · nb teori (in logic: a set of axioms and all statements derivable from them) · ca teoria (in logic: a set of axioms and all statements derivable from them) · lt teorija (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · tr nazariye (obsolecent) (a field of study in mathematics) · cy theori (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · ps تيوري (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · mn онол (a field of study in mathematics) · be тэо́рыя (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · az teoriya (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · hi तथ्य (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · cmn 定理 (in logic: a set of axioms and all statements derivable from them) · cmn 理論 /理论 (an unproven conjecture) · tr teori (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · is kenning (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · fr théorie (an unproven conjecture) · sh тѐо̄рија (in logic: a set of axioms and all statements derivable from them) · mk теорија (an unproven conjecture) · tg назария (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · cy theori (in logic: a set of axioms and all statements derivable from them) · sv teori (a field of study in mathematics) · ja 理論 (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · mk теорија (in logic: a set of axioms and all statements derivable from them) · ms teori (a field of study in mathematics) · nn teori (an unproven conjecture) · pt teoria (a field of study in mathematics) · sq teori (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · yi טעאָריע (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · lo ທິດສະດີ (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · fr théorie (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · tl huna (an unproven conjecture) · el θεωρία (an unproven conjecture) · uk тео́рія (an unproven conjecture) · sk teória (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · cy rhagdybiaeth (an unproven conjecture) · tr teori (an unproven conjecture) · nb teori (a field of study in mathematics) · sv teori (in logic: a set of axioms and all statements derivable from them) · ru гипо́теза (an unproven conjecture) · tl huna (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · el θεωρία (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · he תֵּאוֹרְיָה (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · it teoria (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · nn teori (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · mk теорија (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · my သီအိုရီ (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · ro teorie (an unproven conjecture) · ru тео́рия (in logic: a set of axioms and all statements derivable from them) · hi नज़रिया (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · it teoria (a field of study in mathematics) · vi thuyết (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · ko 리론 (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · ro teorie (a field of study in mathematics) · et teooria (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · bn তত্ত্ব (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · sv teori (an unproven conjecture) · pt teoria (an unproven conjecture) · nl theorie (in logic: a set of axioms and all statements derivable from them) · az nəzəriyyə (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · ka თეორია (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · fi teoria (a field of study in mathematics) · gl teoría (an unproven conjecture) · pl teoria (an unproven conjecture) · ja 定理 (in logic: a set of axioms and all statements derivable from them) · ar نَظَرِيَّة (an unproven conjecture) · nb teori (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · fi teoria (in logic: a set of axioms and all statements derivable from them) · hi सिद्धांत (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · ms teori (an unproven conjecture) · uz teoriya (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · io teorio (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · sl teorija (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · tr teori (a field of study in mathematics) · ro teorii (in logic: a set of axioms and all statements derivable from them) · bg хипоте́за (an unproven conjecture) · nb teori (an unproven conjecture) · vo teor (an unproven conjecture) · tl huna (a field of study in mathematics) · fi teoria (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · es teoría (in logic: a set of axioms and all statements derivable from them) · ca teoria (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · pt teoria (in logic: a set of axioms and all statements derivable from them) · pt teoria (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · ru тео́рия (a field of study in mathematics) · pl teoria (in logic: a set of axioms and all statements derivable from them) · kk теория (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · es teoría (a field of study in mathematics) · es teoría (an unproven conjecture) · la theōria (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena) · ht teori (a coherent set of statements attempting to explain observed phenomena)

theory en · NOUN

Pronunciation

Etymology

Meanings

Forms

Antonyms

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Translations (212)