hy·poth·e·sis (h -p th  -ss)n. pl. hy·poth·e·ses (-s  z ) 1. A tentative explanation for an observation, phenomenon, or scientific problem that can be tested by further investigation. 2. Something taken to be true for the purpose of argument or investigation; an assumption. 3. The antecedent of a conditional statement. [Latin, subject for a speech, from Greek hupothesis, proposal, supposition, from hupotithenai, hupothe-, to suppose : hupo-, hypo- + tithenai, to place; see dh - in Indo-European roots.] |
hypothesis [hie-poth-iss-iss, -seez]
Noun
pl -ses a suggested explanation for a group of facts, accepted either as a basis for further verification or as likely to be true [Greek hupotithenai to propose, literally: put under]
hypothesize
-ise vb
-ise vb
| hypothesis (h-pth-ss) Plural hypotheses (h -pth-sz) A statement that explains or makes generalizations about a set of facts or principles, usually forming a basis for possible experiments to confirm its viability. Usage The words hypothesis, law, and theory refer to different kinds of statements, or sets of statements, that scientists make about natural phenomena. A hypothesis is a proposition that attempts to explain a set of facts in a unified way. It generally forms the basis of experiments designed to establish its plausibility. Simplicity, elegance, and consistency with previously established hypotheses or laws are also major factors in determining the acceptance of a hypothesis. Though a hypothesis can never be proven true (in fact, hypotheses generally leave some facts unexplained), it can sometimes be verified beyond reasonable doubt in the context of a particular theoretical approach. A scientific law is a hypothesis that is assumed to be universally true. A law has good predictive power, allowing a scientist (or engineer) to model a physical system and predict what will happen under various conditions. New hypotheses inconsistent with well-established laws are generally rejected, barring major changes to the approach. An example is the law of conservation of energy, which was firmly established but had to be qualified with the revolutionary advent of quantum mechanics and the uncertainty principle. A theory is a set of statements, including laws and hypotheses, that explains a group of observations or phenomena in terms of those laws and hypotheses. A theory thus accounts for a wider variety of events than a law does. Broad acceptance of a theory comes when it has been tested repeatedly on new data and been used to make accurate predictions. Although a theory generally contains hypotheses that are still open to revision, sometimes it is hard to know where the hypothesis ends and the law or theory begins. Albert Einstein's theory of relativity, for example, consists of statements that were originally considered to be hypotheses (and daring at that). But all the hypotheses of relativity have now achieved the authority of scientific laws, and Einstein's theory has supplanted Newton's laws of motion. In some cases, such as the germ theory of infectious disease, a theory becomes so completely accepted, it stops being referred to as a theory. |
hypothesis
1. a principle or proposition that is assumed for the sake of argument or that is taken for granted to proceed to the proof of the point in question.
2. a system or theory created to account for something that is not understood. — hypothesist, hypothetist, n. — hypothetic, hypothetical, adj.
See also: Philosophy2. a system or theory created to account for something that is not understood. — hypothesist, hypothetist, n. — hypothetic, hypothetical, adj.
1. a principle or proposition that is assumed for the sake of argument or that is taken for granted to proceed to the proof of the point in question.
2. a system or theory created to account for something that is not understood. — hypothesist, hypothetist, n. — hypothetic, hypothetical, adj.
See also: Argumentation
2. a system or theory created to account for something that is not understood. — hypothesist, hypothetist, n. — hypothetic, hypothetical, adj.
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | hypothesis - a proposal intended to explain certain facts or observations proposal - something proposed (such as a plan or assumption) |
| 2. | 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; "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" concept, conception, construct - an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances hypothetical - a hypothetical possibility, circumstance, statement, proposal, situation, etc.; "consider the following, just as a hypothetical" gemmule - the physically discrete element that Darwin proposed as responsible for heredity framework, model, theoretical account - a hypothetical description of a complex entity or process; "the computer program was based on a model of the circulatory and respiratory systems" conjecture, speculation - a hypothesis that has been formed by speculating or conjecturing (usually with little hard evidence); "speculations about the outcome of the election"; "he dismissed it as mere conjecture" supposal, supposition, assumption - a hypothesis that is taken for granted; "any society is built upon certain assumptions" theory - 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" historicism - a theory that social and cultural events are determined by history | |
| 3. |  hypothesis - a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidenceopinion, view - a message expressing a belief about something; the expression of a belief that is held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof; "his opinions appeared frequently on the editorial page" divination - successful conjecture by unusual insight or good luck |
hypothesis
Translations
n hypothesis [haiˈpoθəsis]
an unproved theory or point of view put forward, eg for the sake of argument. hipotese إفْتِراض، فَرَضِيَّه предположение hypotéza hypotese die Hypothese υπόθεση hipótesis hüpotees فرضيه hypoteesi hypothèse הַנָחָה, הַשעָרָה प्राक्कल्पना hipoteza feltevés, hipotézis hipotesis tilgáta ipotesi 仮説 가설 hipotezė hipotēze hipotesis hypothese, vooronderstelling antakelse, hypotese hipoteza hipótese ipoteză гипотеза hypotéza domneva hipoteza hypotes, antagande สมมุติฐาน hipotez, varsayım 假設 гіпотеза, припущення افتراض ، قیاس giả thuyết 假设
adj hypothetical [haipəˈθetikəl]
imaginary; supposed. hipoteties إفْتِراضي предполагаем hypotetický; předpokládaný hypotetisk hypothetisch υποθετικός hipotético hüpoteetiline فرضی hypoteettinen hypothétique הִיפוֹתֵטִי, תֵּיאוֹרֵטִי प्राव-काल्पनिक hipotetski feltételes hipotetis reistur á tilgátu/ímyndaðri forsendu ipotetico 仮定の 가설의 hipotetinis hipotētisks merupakan andaian hypothetisch, voorondersteld tenkt, hypotetisk hipotetyczny hipotético ipotetic гипотетический hypotetický domneven hipotetički hypotetisk ซึ่งสมมุติขึ้น hipotetik, varsayıma dayalı 假設的 гіпотетичний, можливий قیاسی ، مفروضہ có tính chất giả thuyết 假设的
adv hypothetically [haipəˈθetikəli]
hipoteties بصورة إفْتِراضِيَّه предполагаемо hypoteticky hypotetiskt hypothetisch υποθετικά hipotéticamente hüpoteetiliselt بطور فرضی hypoteettisesti hypothétiquement בְּאוֹפֶן תֵּיאוֹרֵטִי प्राव-काल्पनिक hipotetsko feltételezetten secara hipotetis út frá tilgátu/gefinni forsendu ipoteticamente 仮定的に 가설적으로 hipotetiškai hipotētiski dengan andaian hypothetisch, voorondersteld ut fra et tenkt tilfelle, hypotetisk hipotetycznie hipoteticamente (în mod) ipotetic гипотетически hypoteticky domnevno hipotetički hypotetisk โดยสมมุติ hipotetik olarak 假設地 гіпотетично قیاسی طور پر theo giả thuyết 假设地
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