experiment

¹ex·per·i·ment

noun \ik-ˈsper-ə-mənt also -ˈspir-\

Definition of EXPERIMENT

1

a : test, trial <make another experiment of his suspicion — Shakespeare> b : a tentative procedure or policy c : an operation or procedure carried out under controlled conditions in order to discover an unknown effect or law, to test or establish a hypothesis, or to illustrate a known law

2

obsolete : experience

3

: the process of testing : experimentation

Examples of EXPERIMENT

1. Students will carry out simple laboratory experiments.
2. They did some experiments with magnets.
3. These theories have not yet been confirmed by experiment.
4. an experiment in living more frugally
5. the city's experiment with a longer school year

Origin of EXPERIMENT

Middle English, from Anglo-French esperiment, from Latin experimentum, from experiri

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to EXPERIMENT

Synonyms: essay, experimentation, test, trial

Related Words: trial and error; dry run, shakedown; exercise, practice (also practise), rehearsal, tryout, workout; crucible, ordeal; attempt, effort, try

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Other Chemical Engineering Terms

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