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 [ˈθɪərɪ]

n pl -ries

1. a system of rules, procedures, and assumptions used to produce a result

2. abstract knowledge or reasoning

3. a speculative or conjectural view or idea I have a theory about that

4. an ideal or hypothetical situation (esp in the phrase in theory)

5. a set of hypotheses related by logical or mathematical arguments to explain and predict a wide variety of connected phenomena in general terms the theory of relativity

6. a nontechnical name for hypothesis [1]

[from Late Latin theōria, from Greek: a sight, from theōrein to gaze upon]

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the•o•ry (ˈθi ə ri, ˈθɪər i)

n., pl. -ries.

1. a coherent group of general propositions used as principles of explanation for a class of phenomena: Darwin's theory of evolution.

2. a proposed explanation whose status is still conjectural.

3. a body of mathematical principles, theorems, or the like, belonging to one subject: number theory.

4. the branch of a science or art that deals with its principles or methods, as distinguished from its practice: music theory.

5. a particular conception or view of something to be done or of the method of doing it.

6. a guess or conjecture.

7. contemplation or speculation.

Idioms:

in theory, under hypothetical or ideal conditions; theoretically.

[1590–1600; < Late Latin theōria < Greek theōría observing, contemplation, theory =theōr(eîn) to observe (see theorem) + -ia -y³]

syn: theory, hypothesis are used in non-technical contexts to mean an untested idea or opinion. A theory in technical use is a more or less verified or established explanation accounting for known facts or phenomena: Einstein's theory of relativity. A hypothesis is a conjecture put forth as a possible explanation of phenomena or relations, which serves as a basis of argument or experimentation to reach the truth: This idea is only a hypothesis.

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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 He produced a theory about historical change.
hypothesis fact, experience, practice, reality, certainty

2. belief, feeling, speculation, assumption, guess, hunch, presumption, conjecture, surmise, supposition There was a theory that he wanted to marry her.

in theory in principle, on paper, in an ideal world, in the abstract, hypothetically, all things being equal School dental services exists in theory, but in practice there are few.

Translations

theory [ˈθɪərɪ] N (= statement, hypothesis) → teoría f
in theory → en teoría, teóricamente
it's my theory or my theory is that → tengo la teoría de que ..., mi teoría es que ...

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theory [ˈθiːəri] n

(set of ideas explaining something) → théorie f
Darwin's theory of evolution → la théorie de l'évolution de Darwin

(= hypothesis) → théorie f
I have a theory that ... → ma théorie, c'est que ...
there was a theory that ... → on croyait que ...

(rules and principles forming basis of subject) → théorie f
music theory → solfège m

in theory (= theoretically) → théoriquement

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theory

n → Theorie f; in theory → theoretisch, in der Theorie; theory of colour/evolution → Farben-/Evolutionslehre or -theorie f; he has a theory that … → er hat die Theorie, dass …; well, it’s a theory → das ist eine Möglichkeit; he always goes on the theory that … → er geht immer davon aus, dass …

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theory [ˈθɪərɪ] n (statement, hypothesis) → teoria
in theory → in teoria

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theory (ˈθiəri) – plural ˈtheories – noun

1. an idea or explanation which has not yet been proved to be correct. There are many theories about the origin of life; In theory, I agree with you, but it would not work in practice. teorieë نَظَرِيَّه теория teoria teorie die Theorie teori θεωρία teoría oletus, teooria نظریه teoria théorie תֵּיאוֹריָה सिद्धांत teorija elmélet teori kenning teoria 理論 학설 teorija teorija teori theorie teori, lære teoria teoria teorie теория teória teorija teorija teori สมมติฐาน kuram, teori 意見，觀念 теорія نظريہ lý thuyết 意见，观念

2. the main principles and ideas in an art, science etc as opposed to the practice of actually doing it. A musician has to study both the theory and practice of music. teorie مَبادئ نَظَرِيَّه теория teoria teorie die Theorie teori θεωρία teoría teooria بخش نظری teoria théorie תוֹרָה सैद्धान्तिकी teorija elmélet teori fræðilegur grundvöllur teoria 理論 이론 teorija teorija teori theorie teori teoria teoria teorie теоретические основы teória teorija teorija teori ทฤษฎี kuram, teori 理論 теорія اصول، کليات lý luận, nguyên lý 理论

ˌtheoˈretical (-ˈreti-) adjective

teoreties نَظَري теоретичен teórico teoretický theoretisch teoretisk θεωρητικός teórico teoreetiline نظری teoreettinen théorique תֵּיאוֹרֶטִי सैद्धान्तिक teoretski elméleti menurut teori fræðilegur teorico 理論の 이론적인 teorinis, teoriškas teorētisks; teorijas- teori theoretisch teoretisk teoretyczny teórico teoretic теоретический teoretický teoretičen teorijski teoretisk เกี่ยวกับทฤษฎี kuramsal, teorik 理論上的 теоретичний نظري، خالص علمي thuộc lý thuyết 理论上的

ˌtheoˈretically (-ˈreti-)

adverb. teoreties نَظَرِيّاً теоретично teoricamente teoreticky theoretisch teoretiskt θεωρητικά teóricamente teoreetiliselt از نظر تئوری teoreettisesti théoriquement בְּאוֹפֶן תֵּיאוֹרֶטִי सिद्धान्त रूप से teoretski elméletileg secara teoritis fræðilega teoricamente 理論上 이론적으로 teoriškai teorētiski dr segi teori theoretisch teoretisk teoretycznie teoricamente (din punct de vedere) teoretic теоретически teoreticky teoretično teorijski teoretiskt ตามหลักทฤษฎี kuramsal/teorik olarak 在理論上 теоретично اصولي طور پر về mặt lý thuyết 在理论上

ˈtheorize, ˈtheorise verb

to make theories. He did not know what had happened, so he could only theorize about it. teoretiseer يَضَعُ نَظَرِيَّه теоретизирам teorizar vytvářet si teorie theoretisieren opstille teorier θεωρητικολογώ, διατυπώνω θεωρίες teorizar teoretiseerima نظریه پردازی کردن teoretisoida faire des théories (sur) לִיצוֹר תֵיאוֹריָה सिद्धान्त प्रस्तुत करना teoretizirati, postavljati teorije filozofál membuat teori setja fram kenningu teorizzare, (formulare una teoria) 理論をたてる 학설을 세우다 teoretizuoti teoretizēt membuat teori theoretiseren lage teorier teoretyzować teorizar a face teorii despre теоретизировать teoretizovať teoretizirati teorizovati teoretisera สร้างทฤษฎี kuramlamak 推理(推想) теоретизувати نظريہ پيش کرنا lý thuyết hóa 推理（推想）

ˈtheorist noun

teoretikus مُشْتَغِل بالأمور النَّظَرِيَّه، مُنَظِّر теоретик teórico teoretik der/die Theoretiker(in) teoretiker θεωρητικός teórico teoreetik نظریه پرداز teoreetikko théoricien/-ienne תֵּיאוֹרֶטִיקָן सिद्धान्ती, अव्यवहारिक व्यक्ति teoretičar elméleti szakember, teoretikus ahli teori kenningasmiður, fræðimaður teorico 理論家 이론가 teoretikas teorētiķis ahli teori theoreticus teoretiker teoretyk teórico teoretician теоретик teoretik teoretik teoretičar teoretiker นักทฤษฎี kuramcı 理論家 теоретик اصول مقرر کرنے والا nhà lý luận 理论家

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theory → نظرية teorie teori Theorie θεωρία teoría teoria théorie teorija teoria 理論 이론 theorie teori teoria teoria теория teori ทฤษฏี kuram lý thuyết 理论

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the·o·ry

n.  teoría.

1.   conocimientos relacionados con un tema sin verificación práctica de los mismos;

2.   especulación u opinión que no ha sido probada científicamente.