Online Google Dictionary

theory 中文解釋 wordnet sense Collocation Usage Collins Definition
Noun
/ˈTHēərē/,/ˈTHi(ə)rē/,
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theories, plural;
  1. A supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, esp. one based on general principles independent of the thing to be explained
    • - Darwin's theory of evolution
  2. A set of principles on which the practice of an activity is based
    • - a theory of education
    • - music theory
  3. An idea used to account for a situation or justify a course of action
    • - my theory would be that the place has been seriously mismanaged
  4. A collection of propositions to illustrate the principles of a subject


  1. 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"
  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 ...
  3. 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"
  4. In philosophy, theory (from ancient Greek theoria, , meaning "a looking at, viewing, beholding") refers to contemplation or speculation, as opposed to action. ...
  5. The game of chess is commonly divided into three phases: the opening, middlegame, and endgame. As to each of these phases, especially the opening and endgame, there is a large body of theory as how the game should be played. ...
  6. Theory (marketed theory in lower-case letters) is a New York-based men's and women's contemporary sportswear fashion label known for its clean-line and luxuriously simple clothes and accessories. Theory merchandise is sold through signature Theory stores and upscale retailers around the world. ...
  7. In mathematical logic, a theory (also called a formal theory) is a set of sentences in a formal language. The individual sentences of a theory are called its theorems. A first-order theory is a set of first-order sentences. ...
  8. There have been several attempts in history to reach a unified theory of mathematics. Some of the greatest mathematicians have expressed views that the whole subject should be fitted into one theory.
  9. In the sciences, a scientific theory (also called an empirical theory) comprises a collection of concepts, including abstractions of observable phenomena expressed as quantifiable properties, together with rules (called scientific laws) that express relationships between observations of such ...
  10. An unproven conjecture; An expectation of what should happen, barring unforeseen circumstances; (sciences) A coherent statement or set of statements that attempts to explain observed phenomena; (sciences) A logical structure that enables one to deduce the possible results of every experiment ...
  11. (THEORIES) general explanatory statements involving specifically non-observable entities.
  12. (Theories) Fountain by Marcel Duchamp 1917. In the nineteenth century, artists were primarily concerned with ideas of truth and beauty. The aesthetic theorist John Ruskin, who championed the raw naturalism of J. M. W. ...
  13. (theories) Models based on currently accepted hypotheses that offer broadly conceived, logically coherent, and very well supported concepts.
  14. (theories) ideas about how something might have taken place
  15. A hypothesis that has withstood extensive testing by a variety of methods, and in which a higher degree of certainty may be placed. A theory is NEVER a fact, but instead is an attempt to explain one or more facts.
  16. boolean logic | digital signal processing | computer architecture
  17. A comprehensive, internally consistent system of ideas about a set of phenomena as a complement to ‘practice’
  18. several related propositions that explain some domain of inquiry. Also called a school or paradigm.
  19. a general principle that explains or predicts facts or events
  20. 2.1. Normalised resolution optimisation; packed versus capillary columns (negligible contribution of the stationary phase term to the plate height)
  21. "Way of understanding how the world works." (See Inglis, Ling, & Joosten (1999) pp. 28-29) A summary of what is known, providing the basis for research into what is unknown.
  22. Possible or plausible explanation of phenomena based on available evidence. A pound of crops is worth a ton of theory.
  23. General statement that describes a hypothesized relationship between different phenomena or characteristics. Theories should be specific enough to be testable with a well-designed research study.
  24. Scientific theories are explanations that are based on lines of evidence, enable valid predictions, and have been tested in many ways. In contrast, there is also a popular definition of theory — a "guess" or "hunch." These conflicting definitions often cause unnecessary confusion about evolution.