theory
noun
Key Types & categories Parts & wholes Related & opposite
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- noun
- verb
- adjective
- adverb
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- substance, domain or see-also
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Senses
Sense 1 noun
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
Types & categories
Parts & wholes
Related & opposite
Sense 2 noun
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
Types & categories
Parts & wholes
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Sense 3 noun
a belief that can guide behavior
the architect has a theory that more is less
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Table view of this graph
| Sense | Relation | Group | Word |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | derivation | Related & opposite | theorist |
| 1 | derivation | Related & opposite | theoretical |
| 1 | part meronym | Parts & wholes | law of nature |
| 1 | part meronym | Parts & wholes | hypothesis |
| 1 | hypernym | Types & categories | explanation |
| 1 | hyponym | Types & categories | reductionism |
| 1 | hyponym | Types & categories | blastogenesis |
| 1 | hyponym | Types & categories | preformation |
| 1 | hyponym | Types & categories | scientific theory |
| 1 | hyponym | Types & categories | field theory |
| 1 | hyponym | Types & categories | economic theory |
| 1 | hyponym | Types & categories | atomist theory |
| 1 | hyponym | Types & categories | holism |
| 1 | hyponym | Types & categories | structural sociology |
| 1 | hyponym | Types & categories | structural anthropology |
| 2 | derivation | Related & opposite | theorist |
| 2 | derivation | Related & opposite | conjecture |
| 2 | derivation | Related & opposite | theoretical |
| 2 | part holonym | Parts & wholes | theory |
| 2 | hypernym | Types & categories | conception |
| 2 | hyponym | Types & categories | hypothetical |
| 2 | hyponym | Types & categories | gemmule |
| 2 | hyponym | Types & categories | model |
| 2 | hyponym | Types & categories | conjecture |
| 2 | hyponym | Types & categories | supposal |
| 2 | hyponym | Types & categories | historicism |
| 3 | derivation | Related & opposite | theorist |
| 3 | derivation | Related & opposite | conjecture |
| 3 | hypernym | Types & categories | belief |
| 3 | hyponym | Types & categories | egoism |
| 3 | hyponym | Types & categories | patchwork |