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

In their experiments, these structures reached a record 48 dimensions and included more than 17,000 distinct topological signatures, creating a vast new "alphabet" for encoding stable quantum information.

From Science Daily

Stores added hot foods familiar to Taiwanese customers—items like tea eggs and boxed meals—and experimented with new services designed to drive foot traffic.

From Barron's

But for the past several years he has been experimenting with landscapes.

From The Wall Street Journal

Perhaps he causes such extensive mayhem because he is the unintended side effect of a cataclysmic experiment.

From Salon

The former England manager was never fully convinced about his defensive ability and Southgate took Alexander-Arnold to Euro 2024 as a midfield player, but abandoned the number eight experiment after just two group games.

From BBC

Related Words

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