science

sci·ence

noun \ˈsī-ən(t)s\

Definition of SCIENCE

1

: the state of knowing : knowledge as distinguished from ignorance or misunderstanding

2

a : a department of systematized knowledge as an object of study <the science of theology> b : something (as a sport or technique) that may be studied or learned like systematized knowledge <have it down to a science>

3

a : knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through scientific method b : such knowledge or such a system of knowledge concerned with the physical world and its phenomena : natural science

4

: a system or method reconciling practical ends with scientific laws <cooking is both a science and an art>

5

capitalized : christian science

Examples of SCIENCE

1. The program encourages students to pursue a career in science.
2. a list of terms commonly used in science
3. a new branch of science
4. advances in science and technology
5. Students are required to take two sciences.
6. students majoring in a science
7. The Malay tapir, the largest of the world's four tapir species, remained largely invisible to science until recently. The other three species of these odd, endearing animals all live in South America. —Anthony King, New York Times, 2 June 2009
8. If there were any doubt, Golden's muckraking investigation—he is the Ida Tarbell of college admissions—reveals that almost every word uttered by representatives of the top colleges about the care and nuance and science of the much vaunted admissions process is bunk. —Michael Wolff, New York Times Book Review, 17 Sept. 2006
9. Of course, there is both corporate and government-sponsored grant money available for such initiatives in science and engineering. And scientists are used to working together in laboratories. But in the humanities it was different, said the deans. —David Laurence, Association of Departments of English Bulletin, Winter 2004
10. The journal Annales was started in 1929, by Bloch and Lucien Febvre, two friends conversant with the new sciences of sociology and geography, psychology and anthropology. —Stephen Kotkin, New Yorker, 29 Sept. 2003

Origin of SCIENCE

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin scientia, from scient-, sciens having knowledge, from present participle of scire to know; perhaps akin to Sanskrit chyati he cuts off, Latin scindere to split — more at shed

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SCIENCE

Synonyms: lore, knowledge, wisdom

Related Words: dope, information, intelligence, know, lowdown, news, skinny [slang]; data, evidence, facts; acquaintance, awareness, familiarity, literacy; erudition, learning, scholarship; expertise, know-how

Near Antonyms: ignorance, inexperience, innocence, nescience, unfamiliarity

[+]more[-]hide

Other Physics Terms

amplitude, centrifugal, centripetal, convection, gradient, hysteresis, kinetic, lase, quantum