experiment

[ik-sper-uh-muhnt, 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

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

Other Word Forms

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

"It was one of my best days in the lab," Bushin recalled of the first successful experiment.

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These experiments revealed that introducing the longevity gene reduced cellular aging and fibrosis without altering progerin levels directly.

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To explore whether and under what circumstances AI supports dishonest behavior, researchers conducted an experiment in which participants were shown 10 die rolls on a computer screen and told to report the numbers.

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"We divided up the work, but the bulk of the experiment -- actually, the entire experiment -- was conducted here at KU, and we also focused on soils from Kansas for this work."

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Over the years, researchers experimented with roost cameras, military radar, hot-air balloons with ultrasound recorders, and GPS trackers -- struggling to create tools light enough for the bats to carry.

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Related Words

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