theory

Fetched 2026-10-26 (cache).

Synonyms: theor, theori, theody, theora

Antonyms: theor, theori, theody, theora

Related words from Datamuse; suggestions, not definitions.

Noun

1. {{senseid|en|description}} A description of an event or system that is considered to be accurate.
2. {{senseid|en|sciences}} {{lb|en|sciences}} A [[coherent]] [[statement]] or set of ideas that [[explain]]s [[observe]]d [[fact]]s or [[phenomenon|phenomena]] and correctly predicts new facts or phenomena not previously observed, or which sets out the [[law]]s and principles of something known or observed; a [[hypothesis]] confirmed by observation, experiment etc. {{defdate|from 17th c.}}
3. {{senseid|en|principles}} {{lb|en|uncountable}} The underlying [[principle]]s or [[method]]s of a given technical skill, [[art]] etc., as opposed to its [[practice]]. {{defdate|from 17th c.}}
4. {{senseid|en|mathematics}} {{lb|en|mathematics}} A [[field]] of [[study]] attempting to [[exhaustive]]ly [[describe]] a particular [[class]] of [[construct]]s. {{defdate|from 18th c.}}
5. {{senseid|en|logic}} {{lb|en|countable|logic}} A [[set]] of [[axiom]]s together with all [[statement]]s [[derivable]] from them; ''or'', a set of statements which are {{w|Deductive closure|deductively closed}}. ''Equivalently,'' a [[formal language]] plus a set of [[axiom]]s (from which can then be derived [[theorem]]s). The statements may be required to all be bound (''i.e.'', to have no [[free variable]]s).
6. {{lb|en|chess|_|and similar games}} The standardization and study of fixed sequences of moves, especially in the opening phase of a game.
7. {{senseid|en|conception}} {{lb|en|obsolete}} Mental [[conception]]; [[reflection]], [[consideration]]. {{defdate|16th|18th c.}}
8. {{senseid|en|hypothesis}} (informal) A [[hypothesis]] or [[conjecture]]. {{defdate|from 18th c.}}

Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wiktionary dump) · cached copy, not a rewrite.