theory
noun
Key Types & categories Parts & wholes Related & opposite
- Word type
- noun
- verb
- adjective
- adverb
- Line style
- core relation
- instance, member or derived
- substance, domain or see-also
- Direction
- arrow points to the broader concept
- dashed outline: no word in this language
- Click any word to expand it.
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
- explanation hypernym
- reductionism hyponym
- blastogenesis hyponym
- preformation hyponym
- scientific theory hyponym
- field theory hyponym
- economic theory hyponym
- atomist theory hyponym
- holism hyponym
- structural sociology hyponym
- structural anthropology hyponym
Parts & wholes
- law of nature part meronym
- hypothesis part meronym
Related & opposite
- theorist derivation
- theoretical derivation
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
- conception hypernym
- hypothetical hyponym
- gemmule hyponym
- model hyponym
- conjecture hyponym
- supposal hyponym
- historicism hyponym
Parts & wholes
- theory part holonym
Related & opposite
- theorist derivation
- conjecture derivation
- theoretical derivation
Sense 3 noun
a belief that can guide behavior
the architect has a theory that more is less
Types & categories
Related & opposite
- theorist derivation
- conjecture derivation
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 |