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.

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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

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verb

1. (intr) to make an experiment or experiments

experiment Scientific  

/ 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

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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

New Year’s resolutions may be the most widespread behavioral experiment ever attempted—a great unsupervised trial in overconfidence.

From The Wall Street Journal

Paying attention to the little things doesn’t just improve the dish; it trains the cook to notice, experiment and trust instincts.

From Salon

Soon after, workloads stabilized and employees continued to experiment with the technology.

From Barron's

In the 1990s and 2000s, the naan saw a fresh wave of innovations as fine dining restaurants in India and abroad began experimenting with the flatbread.

From BBC

Only time will tell if these experiments pan out.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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