See Also: Odd lot theory(finance)
BCS theory(encyclopedia)
set theory(encyclopedia)
Odd-lot theory(money)
just war theory(encyclopedia)
Dow Theory(money)
theory(1)(dictionary)
theory(2)(dictionary)
theory(dictionary)
Theory(medicine)

theory(1) (iou)



theory noun1. L16.
[Late Latin theoria from Greek theoria contemplation, speculation, sight, from theoros spectator (cf. THEOR), from base of theasthai look on, contemplate: see -Y3.]
A mental scheme of something to be done, or of a way of doing something; a systematic statement of rules or principles to be followed. L16.
Day Lewis My aunts and uncle had..no theories about child upbringing.
Mental view, contemplation. E17-E18.
a. The knowledge or exposition of the general principles or methods of an art or science, esp. as distinguished from the practice of it; Math. a set of theorems forming a connected system. E17.
R. Warner We studied the whole theory of flight.
b. A system of ideas or statements explaining something, esp. one based on general principles independent of the things to be explained; a hypothesis that has been confirmed or established by observation or experiment and is accepted as accounting for known facts. M17.
atomic theory, gauge theory, theory of evolution, theory of numbers, theory of relativity, etc.
A. Koestler Contradictory theories about the forces which make planets revolve. P. Davies The testing ground for Einstein's theory of curved space and time.
(The formulation of) abstract knowledge or speculative thought; systematic conception of something. Freq. opposed to practice. E17.
in theory according to theory, theoretically.
A. Dillard A terrifically abstract book of literary and aesthetic theory.
loosely. An unsubstantiated hypothesis; a speculative (esp. fanciful) view. L18.
E. M. Forster He had a theory that musicians are incredibly complex.
Comb.: theory-laden adjective designating a term, statement, etc., the use of which implies acceptance of some theory.