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Synonyms

experiment

American  
[ik-sper-uh-muhnt, ek-sper-uh-ment] / ɪkˈspɛr ə mənt, ɛkˈspɛr əˌmɛnt /

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 British  

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (intr) to make an experiment or experiments

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
experiment Scientific  
/ ĭk-spĕrə-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


Related Words

See trial.

Other Word Forms

  • experimentator noun
  • experimenter noun
  • experimentor noun
  • preexperiment noun
  • proexperiment adjective
  • reexperiment verb (used without object)
  • unexperimented adjective

Etymology

Origin of experiment

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

More recently, the company has been experimenting with different product assortments and storytelling in some stores, and said it has seen improved traffic as a result.

From The Wall Street Journal

"I was involved in the launch preparation of the experiments that the astronauts put out on the lunar surface," he explains.

From BBC

"We were just conducting an experiment with students in class."

From Science Daily

For me, it was important to give us the rehearsal space, to experiment with the physicality of the space and how we relate to each other.

From Los Angeles Times

The idea of having Foden as Kane's central striking understudy is now a non-starter after the experiment of using him as a false nine against Japan was cut short after less than an hour.

From BBC