string theory

American  

noun

Physics.

1. string3

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string theory Scientific  

/ strĭng /

1. Any of various theories in physics hypothesizing that space-time has more than four dimensions, and that some of the dimensions are exceedingly small and stringlike in shape. Elementary particles in string theory are understood as standing waves in such space-time strings, rather than as pointlike objects. String theories attempt to unify gravity with the other fundamental forces.

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string theory Cultural  

1. In physics, a theory that views subatomic particles as string-like objects floating in space-time rather than as point-like objects. Space-time in string theory can have up to nine dimensions of space, plus the dimension of time.

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Example Sentences

Using only these assumptions, the team showed that the resulting mathematics naturally reproduced the defining characteristics of string theory, including its famous spectrum of particle masses and spins.

From Science Daily • May 19, 2026

Until this hypothetical key to the mysteries puts a bow on string theory and reconciles quantum and classical mechanics, don’t bother.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026

Dr. Djordje Minic, a professor of physics and particle and string theory at the University of Texas at Austin, isn’t so sure about these conclusions.

From Salon • Nov. 13, 2024

In 1976, Simons received the American Mathematical Society’s Oswald Veblen Prize in Geometry for research that would prove to be influential to string theory and other areas of physics.

From Seattle Times • May 10, 2024

The piece that completes the puzzle is string theory, according to which “the tally of possible universes stands at the almost incomprehensible 10500, a number so large it defies analogy.”

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker