What does Theory mean?
Definitions for Theory
ˈθi ə ri, ˈθɪər ithe·o·ry
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word Theory.
Princeton's WordNet
theorynoun
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
"theories can incorporate facts and laws and tested hypotheses"; "true in fact and theory"
hypothesis, possibility, theorynoun
a tentative insight into the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena
"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"
theorynoun
a belief that can guide behavior
"the architect has a theory that more is less"; "they killed him on the theory that dead men tell no tales"
Wiktionary
theorynoun
Mental conception; reflection, consideration.
theorynoun
A coherent statement or set of ideas that explains observed facts or phenomena, or which sets out the laws and principles of something known or observed; a hypothesis confirmed by observation, experiment etc.
theorynoun
The underlying principles or methods of a given technical skill, art etc., as opposed to its practice.
theorynoun
A field of study attempting to exhaustively describe a particular class of constructs.
Knot theory classifies the mappings of a circle into 3-space.
theorynoun
A hypothesis or conjecture.
theorynoun
A set of axioms together with all statements derivable from them. Equivalently, a formal language plus a set of axioms (from which can then be derived theorems).
A theory is consistent if it has a model.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
THEORYnoun
Speculation; not practice; scheme; plan or system yet subsisting only in the mind.
Etymology: theorie, Fr. ϑεωρία.
If they had been themselves to execute their own theory in this church, they would have seen being nearer at hand. Richard Hooker, b. v.
In making gold, the means hitherto propounded to effect it are in the practice full of errour, and in the theory full of unsound imagination. Francis Bacon, Nat. Hist. №. 326.
Practice alone divides the world into virtuous and vicious; but as to the theory and speculation of virtue and vice, mankind are much the same. Robert South, Sermons.
ChatGPT
theory
A theory is a well-substantiated explanation or framework that is supported by evidence and reasoning, and seeks to understand and explain a phenomenon or set of phenomena. It is usually based on observations, experiments, and logical reasoning, allowing for predictions and the formation of new knowledge. Theories are often subject to scrutiny, evaluation, and potential modification or revision based on new evidence or findings.
Webster Dictionary
Theorynoun
a doctrine, or scheme of things, which terminates in speculation or contemplation, without a view to practice; hypothesis; speculation
Theorynoun
an exposition of the general or abstract principles of any science; as, the theory of music
Theorynoun
the science, as distinguished from the art; as, the theory and practice of medicine
Theorynoun
the philosophical explanation of phenomena, either physical or moral; as, Lavoisier's theory of combustion; Adam Smith's theory of moral sentiments
Wikidata
Theory
Theory is a contemplative and rational type of abstract or generalizing thinking, or the results of such thinking. Depending on the context, the results might for example include generalized explanations of how nature works. The word has its roots in ancient Greek, but in modern use it has taken on several different related meanings. A theory is not the same as a hypothesis, as a theory is a 'proven' hypothesis, that, in other words, has never been disproved through experiment, and has a basis in fact. One modern group of meanings emphasizes the speculative and generalizing nature of theory. For example in the arts and philosophy, the term "theoretical" may be used to describe ideas and empirical phenomena which are not easily measurable. And by extension of the philosophical meaning, "theoria" is also a word still used in theological contexts. As already in Aristotle's definitions, theory is very often contrasted to "practice" a Greek term for "doing", which is opposed to theory because pure theory involves no doing apart from itself. A classical example of the distinction between theoretical and practical uses the discipline of medicine: medical theory involves trying to understand the causes and nature of health and sickness, while the practical side of medicine is trying to make people healthy. These two things are related but can be independent, because it is possible to research health and sickness without curing specific patients, and it is possible to cure a patient without knowing how the cure worked.
The New Hacker's Dictionary
theory
The consensus, idea, plan, story, or set of rules that is currently being used to inform a behavior. This usage is a generalization and (deliberate) abuse of the technical meaning. “What's the theory on fixing this TECO loss?” “What's the theory on dinner tonight?” (“Chinatown, I guess.”) “What's the current theory on letting lusers on during the day?” “The theory behind this change is to fix the following well-known screw....”
Editors Contribution
Matched Categories
British National Corpus
Spoken Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'Theory' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #724
Written Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'Theory' in Written Corpus Frequency: #1839
Nouns Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'Theory' in Nouns Frequency: #228
Usage in printed sourcesFrom:
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Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of Theory in Chaldean Numerology is: 6
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of Theory in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1
Examples of Theory in a Sentence
If any human being earnestly desire to push on to new discoveries instead of just retaining and using the old to win victories over Nature as a worker rather than over hostile critics as a disputant to attain , in fact, clear and demonstrative knowlegde instead of attractive and probable theory we invite him as a true son of Science to join our ranks.
It is too narrowly focused and it's thoughtless if you think that the mom who is filling up her gas tank isn't the same mom who is caring about her kids' school and making sure that CRT( critical race theory) isn't part of her kids' curriculum. That mom is faced with both sets of issues, cultural and economic, and so elected officials need to meet voters where they're at.
When Thomas took the bench, Justice Scalia felt like he was the first line of reinforcement after years of fighting alone in the trenches to defend the original understanding of the Constitution, neither Justice Samuel Alito, nor Chief Justice John Roberts have the same level of commitment to the theory.
The critical race theory people are trying to take us back to a divided country.
We are in close contact with the Egyptian authorities, both civil and military. The Egyptian authorities have already sent air reconnaissance teams to the site, and France is ready to help with the search if the Egyptian authorities ask, of course, at this stage, no theory can be ruled out regarding the causes of the disappearance.
Popularity rank by frequency of use
References
Translations for Theory
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- نظريةArabic
- teoriaCatalan, Valencian
- teorieCzech
- TheorieGerman
- θεωρίαGreek
- teoríaSpanish
- نظریه, تئوریPersian
- teoriaFinnish
- théorieFrench
- teoiricIrish
- beachd-smaoinScottish Gaelic
- सिद्धान्तHindi
- teoriHaitian Creole
- elméletHungarian
- teoriaItalian
- 推論, 理論, 見解, 推測, 憶測, 定理, 学説Japanese
- ទ្រឹស្ដីKhmer
- теоријаMacedonian
- teorijaMaltese
- theorieDutch
- teoriNorwegian
- teoriaPolish
- teoriaPortuguese
- teorie, teoriiRomanian
- гипотеза, теорияRussian
- tèōrija, тѐо̄ријаSerbo-Croatian
- teoriSwedish
- கோட்பாடுTamil
- సిద్ధాంతంTelugu
- نظریہUrdu
- teorod, teorVolapük
- טעאָריעYiddish
- 理論Chinese
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