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

Other Chemical Engineering Terms

alkali, cation, decant, hygroscopic, isotope, oxidize, slurry, solute, viscous

²ex·per·i·ment

intransitive verb \-ˌment\

Definition of EXPERIMENT

: to carry out experiments : try out a new procedure, idea, or activity

— ex·per·i·men·ta·tion \ik-ˌsper-ə-mən-ˈtā-shən, -ˌmen- also -ˌspir-\ noun

— ex·per·i·ment·er \-ˈsper-ə-ˌmen-tər also -ˈspir-\ noun

First Known Use of EXPERIMENT

1787

Other Chemical Engineering Terms

alkali, cation, decant, hygroscopic, isotope, oxidize, slurry, solute, viscous