English > theory: 3 senses > noun 1, cognition| Meaning | 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. |
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| Example | "true in fact and theory" |
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| Parts | hypothesis, possibility, theory | A tentative insight into the natural world |
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| law, law of nature | A generalization that describes recurring facts or events in nature |
| Narrower | atomism, atomic theory, atomist theory, atomistic theory | (chemistry) any theory in which all matter is composed of tiny discrete finite indivisible indestructible particles |
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| blastogenesis | theory that inherited characteristics / characteristics are transmitted by germ plasm |
| economic theory | (economics) a theory of commercial activities (such as the production and consumption of goods) |
| field theory | (physics) a theory that explains a physical phenomenon in terms of a field and the manner in which it interacts with matter or with other fields |
| holism, holistic theory | The theory that the parts of any whole cannot exist and cannot be understood except in their relation to the whole |
| preformation, theory of preformation | A theory (popular in the 18th century and now discredited) that an individual develops by simple enlargement of a tiny fully formed organism (a homunculus) that exists in the germ cell |
| reductionism | A theory that all complex systems can be completely understood in terms of their components |
| scientific theory | A theory that explains scientific observations |
| structuralism, structural anthropology | An anthropological theory that there are unobservable social structures that generate observable social phenomena |
| structuralism, structural sociology | A sociological theory based on the premise that society comes before individuals |
| Broader | explanation | Thought that makes something comprehensible |
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| Spanish | teoría |
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| Catalan | teoria |
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| Adjectives | theoretic | concerned primarily with theories or hypotheses rather than practical considerations |
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| Nouns | theorist, theoretician | someone who theorizes / theorizes (especially in science or art) |
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English > theory: 3 senses > noun 2, cognition| Meaning | A tentative insight into the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena. |
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| Examples | - "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"
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| Synonyms | hypothesis, possibility |
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| Part of | theory | A well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world |
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| Narrower | assumption, supposition, supposal | A hypothesis that is taken for granted |
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| gemmule | The physically discrete element that Darwin proposed as responsible for heredity |
| historicism | A theory that social and cultural events are determined by history |
| hypothetical | A hypothetical possibility, circumstance, statement / statement, proposal, situation, etc. |
| model, theoretical account, framework | A hypothetical description of a complex entity or process |
| speculation, conjecture | A hypothesis that has been formed by speculating or conjecturing (usually with little hard evidence) |
| Broader | concept, conception, construct | An abstract or general idea inferred / inferred / inferred / inferred or derived from specific instances |
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| Spanish | hipótesis, posibilidad, teoría |
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| Catalan | hipòtesi, teoria |
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| Adjectives | theoretic | concerned primarily with theories or hypotheses rather than practical considerations |
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| Nouns | theorist, theoretician | someone who theorizes / theorizes (especially in science or art) |
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| Verbs | theorize, theorise | to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds |
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