theory (redirected from Young-Helmholtz theory)

the·o·ry  (th-r, thîr)

n. pl. the·o·ries

1. A set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena, especially one that has been repeatedly tested or is widely accepted and can be used to make predictions about natural phenomena.

2. The branch of a science or art consisting of its explanatory statements, accepted principles, and methods of analysis, as opposed to practice: a fine musician who had never studied theory.

3. A set of theorems that constitute a systematic view of a branch of mathematics.

4. Abstract reasoning; speculation: a decision based on experience rather than theory.

5. A belief or principle that guides action or assists comprehension or judgment: staked out the house on the theory that criminals usually return to the scene of the crime.

6. An assumption based on limited information or knowledge; a conjecture.

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[Late Latin theria, from Greek theri, from theros, spectator : probably the, a viewing + -oros, seeing (from horn, to see).]

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theory

Noun

pl -ries

1. a set of ideas, based on evidence and careful reasoning, which offers an explanation of how something works or why something happens, but has not been completely proved: the theory of cosmology

2. the ideas and abstract knowledge relating to something: political theory

3. an idea or opinion: it's only a theory, admittedly, but I think it's worth pursuing

4. in theory in an ideal or hypothetical situation: in theory, the tax is supposed to limit inflation [Greek theōria a sight]

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theory  (th-r, thîr)

A set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena. Most theories that are accepted by scientists have been repeatedly tested by experiments and can be used to make predictions about natural phenomena. See Note at hypothesis.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	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" reductionism - a theory that all complex systems can be completely understood in terms of their components explanation - thought that makes something comprehensible law of nature, law - a generalization that describes recurring facts or events in nature; "the laws of thermodynamics" hypothesis, theory, possibility - 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" blastogenesis - theory that inherited characteristics are transmitted by germ plasm 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 scientific theory - a theory that explains scientific observations; "scientific theories must be falsifiable" 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 economic theory - (economics) a theory of commercial activities (such as the production and consumption of goods) atomist theory, atomistic theory, atomic theory, atomism - (chemistry) any theory in which all matter is composed of tiny discrete finite indivisible indestructible particles; "the ancient Greek philosophers Democritus and Epicurus held atomic theories of the universe" holism, holistic theory - the theory that the parts of any whole cannot exist and cannot be understood except in their relation to the whole; "holism holds that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts"; "holistic theory has been applied to ecology and language and mental states" structural sociology, structuralism - a sociological theory based on the premise that society comes before individuals structural anthropology, structuralism - an anthropological theory that there are unobservable social structures that generate observable social phenomena
	2.	theory - 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" hypothesis, possibility 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.	theory - 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" belief - any cognitive content held as true egoism - (ethics) the theory that the pursuit of your own welfare in the basis of morality patchwork, hodgepodge, jumble - a theory or argument made up of miscellaneous or incongruous ideas

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theory

noun 1. hypothesis, philosophy, system of ideas, plan, system, science, scheme, proposal, principles, ideology, thesis << OPPOSITE fact

noun 2. belief, feeling, speculation, assumption, guess, hunch, presumption, conjecture, surmise, supposition

Translations

theory [ˈθɪərɪ] n → teoría

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theory [ˈθɪərɪ] n → théorie f

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theory [ˈθɪərɪ] n → Theorie f;

in theory → theoretisch

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theory [ˈθɪərɪ] n → teoria;

in theory → in teoria