theory

1. A well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world;
   An organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena (synset 105998364)
   "theories can incorporate facts and laws and tested hypotheses"; "true in fact and theory"
   is a type of: explanation - thought that makes something comprehensible
   subtypes:

   • reductionism - a theory that all complex systems can be completely understood in terms of their components
   • blastogenesis - theory that inherited characteristics are transmitted by germ plasm
   • preformation, theory of preformation - a theory (popular in the 18th century and now discredited) that an individual develops by simple enlargement of a tiny fully formed organism (a homunculus) that exists in the germ cell
   • scientific theory - a theory that explains scientific observations
   • field theory - (physics) a theory that explains a physical phenomenon in terms of a field and the manner in which it interacts with matter or with other fields
   • economic theory - (economics) a theory of commercial activities (such as the production and consumption of goods)
   • atomic theory, atomism, atomist theory, atomistic theory - (chemistry) any theory in which all matter is composed of tiny discrete finite indivisible indestructible particles
   • holism, holistic theory - the theory that the parts of any whole cannot exist and cannot be understood except in their relation to the whole
   • structural sociology, structuralism - a sociological theory based on the premise that society comes before individuals
   • structural anthropology, structuralism - an anthropological theory that there are unobservable social structures that generate observable social phenomena
   has:

   • law, law of nature - a generalization that describes recurring facts or events in nature
   • hypothesis, possibility, theory - a tentative insight into the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena
2. A tentative insight into the natural world;
   A concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena (synset 105897536)
   "a scientific hypothesis that survives experimental testing becomes a scientific theory"; "he proposed a fresh theory of alkalis that later was accepted in chemical practices"
   is a type of: concept, conception, construct - an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances
   subtypes:

   • hypothetical - a hypothetical possibility, circumstance, statement, proposal, situation, etc.
   • gemmule - the physically discrete element that Darwin proposed as responsible for heredity
   • framework, model, theoretical account - a hypothetical description of a complex entity or process
   • conjecture, speculation - a hypothesis that has been formed by speculating or conjecturing (usually with little hard evidence)
   • assumption, supposal, supposition - a hypothesis that is taken for granted
   • historicism - a theory that social and cultural events are determined by history
   is a part of: theory - a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena
   same as: hypothesis, possibility
3. A belief that can guide behavior (synset 105961846)
   "the architect has a theory that more is less"; "they killed him on the theory that dead men tell no tales"
   is a type of: belief - any cognitive content held as true
   subtypes:

   • egoism - (ethics) the theory that the pursuit of your own welfare in the basis of morality
   • hodgepodge, jumble, patchwork - a theory or argument made up of miscellaneous or incongruous ideas

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