theory

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A set of ideas that explains how or why something happens, supported by evidence.

   Darwin's theory of evolution changed how we understand life.

2. 2
   noun

   An idea or guess that has not yet been proven.

   My theory is that he missed the train.

3. 3
   noun

   The general principles or rules of a subject, as opposed to its practice.

   She knows music theory but rarely plays in public.

4. 4
   noun

   A field of study that tries to fully describe a class of things.

   Knot theory studies how curves can be tied in space.

Appears in

From Middle French théorie, from Late Latin theōria, from Ancient Greek θεωρία (theōría, “contemplation, divine perspective, speculation, a looking at, a seeking”), from θεωρέω (theōréō, “to look at, view, see, consider, examine”), from θεωρός (theōrós, “spectator”), from θέα (théa, “view, perspective, sight”) + ὁράω (horáō, “to see, look”) [i. e. θέαν ὁράω (théan horáō, “see, look at a view; survey + genitive”)].

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary