experiment

[ noun ik-sper-uh-muhnt; verb ek-sper-uh-ment ]

noun

1. a test, trial, or tentative procedure; an act or operation for the purpose of discovering something unknown or of testing a principle, supposition, etc.:

   a chemical experiment; a teaching experiment; an experiment in living.

2. the conducting of such operations; experimentation:

   a product that is the result of long experiment.

   Synonyms: investigation, research

3. Obsolete. experience.

verb (used without object)

1. to try or test, especially in order to discover or prove something:

   to experiment with a new procedure.

experiment

noun

1. a test or investigation, esp one planned to provide evidence for or against a hypothesis: a scientific experiment
2. the act of conducting such an investigation or test; experimentation; research
3. an attempt at something new or different; an effort to be original

   a poetic experiment

4. an obsolete word for experience

verb

1. intr to make an experiment or experiments

experiment

/ ĭk-spĕr′ə-mənt /

1. A test or procedure carried out under controlled conditions to determine the validity of a hypothesis or make a discovery.
2. See Note at hypothesis

Derived Forms

• exˈperiˌmenter, noun

Other Words From

• ex·peri·menter ex·peri·mentor ex·peri·men·tator noun
• preex·peri·ment noun
• proex·peri·ment adjective
• reex·peri·ment verb (used without object) noun
• unex·peri·mented adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of experiment¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English: “proof,” from Latin experīmentum “test, trial,” from experī(rī) “to test, try” ( experience ) + -mentum -ment

Word History and Origins

Origin of experiment¹

C14: from Latin experīmentum proof, trial, from experīrī to test; see experience

Synonym Study

See trial.

Example Sentences

He described that his drinking was a "15-year pattern" and it led to experimenting with other substances.

From Salon

To test this, they first consulted a neural connectivity database and then did experiments to trace the connections between these different brain areas.

From Science Daily

In both computational models and laboratory experiments, the team of scientists used cell density as an effective tool for controlling how mouse cells pattern themselves into complex structures.

From Science Daily

The team ran more than 300,000 experiments, incrementally increasing task loads to evaluate how the models managed rising demands.

From Science Daily

So, 10 years ago Dr Matthew decided to experiment with cocoa trees, hoping they would generate some funds to support the rest of the farm.

From BBC

Related Words

• analysis
• attempt
• enterprise
• examination
• exercise
• experimentation
• measure
• observation
• operation
• practice
• probe
• procedure
• research
• search
• study
• trial
• undertaking
• venture