theory : Idioms & Phrases

• noun (chemistry) theory that describes aqueous solutions in terms of acids (which dissociate to give hydrogen ions) and bases (which dissociate to give hydroxyl ions); the product of an acid and a base is a salt and water
  theory of dissociation; Arrhenius theory of dissociation.
  

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• noun (psychology) a theory that association is the basic principle of mental activity
  associationism.
  

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• noun a theory of the structure of the atom
  
• noun (chemistry) any theory in which all matter is composed of tiny discrete finite indivisible indestructible particles
  atomism; atomic theory; atomist theory.
  
  • the ancient Greek philosophers Democritus and Epicurus held atomic theories of the universe

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• or the Doctrine of definite proportions (Chem.), teaches that chemical combinations take place between the supposed ultimate particles or atoms of bodies, in some simple ratio, as of one to one, two to three, or some other, always expressible in whole numbers.

Webster 1913

• etc. See under Atomic, Binary, etc.

Webster 1913

• noun (chemistry) any theory in which all matter is composed of tiny discrete finite indivisible indestructible particles
  atomism; atomic theory; atomist theory.
  
  • the ancient Greek philosophers Democritus and Epicurus held atomic theories of the universe

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• noun (chemistry) any theory in which all matter is composed of tiny discrete finite indivisible indestructible particles
  atomism; atomic theory; atomist theory.
  
  • the ancient Greek philosophers Democritus and Epicurus held atomic theories of the universe

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• noun (cosmology) the theory that the universe originated sometime between 10 billion and 20 billion years ago from the cataclysmic explosion of a small volume of matter at extremely high density and temperature
  big bang theory.
  

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• noun (cosmology) the theory that the universe originated sometime between 10 billion and 20 billion years ago from the cataclysmic explosion of a small volume of matter at extremely high density and temperature
  big bang theory.
  

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• (Chem.), the theory that all chemical compounds consist of two constituents of opposite and unlike qualities.

Webster 1913

• noun (physics) a theory of atomic structure that combined Rutherford's model with the quantum theory; electrons orbiting a nucleus can only be in certain stationary energy states and light is emitted when electrons jump from one energy state to another
  

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• noun (biology) the theory that cells form the fundamental structural and functional units of all living organisms; proposed in 1838 by Matthias Schleiden and by Theodor Schwann
  cell doctrine.
  

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• . (Biol.) See Cellular theory, under Cellular.

Webster 1913

• (Biol.), a theory, according to which the essential element of every tissue, either vegetable or animal, is a cell; the whole series of cells having been formed from the development of the germ cell and by differentiation converted into tissues and organs which, both in plants ans animals, are to be considered as a mass of minute cells communicating with each other.

Webster 1913

• noun the discipline that studies the principles of transmiting information and the methods by which it is delivered (as print or radio or television etc.)
  communications.
  
  • communications is his major field of study

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• noun (cosmology) the theory that the universe maintains a constant average density with matter created to fill the void left by galaxies that are receding from each other
  continuous creation theory.
  
  • the steady state theory has been abandoned in favor of the big bang theory

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• noun (physics) the theory that light is transmitted as a stream of particles
  corpuscular theory.
  

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• (Opt.), the theory enunciated by Sir Isaac Newton, that light consists in the emission and rapid progression of minute particles or corpuscles. The theory is now generally rejected, and supplanted by the undulatory theory.

Webster 1913

• noun (physics) the theory that light is transmitted as a stream of particles
  corpuscular theory.
  

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• (Biol.), the doctrine that animals and plants possess the power of passing by slow and successive stages from a lower to a higher state of organization, and that all the higher forms of life now in existence were thus developed by uniform laws from lower forms, and are not the result of special creative acts. See the Note under Darwinian.

Webster 1913

• noun the political theory that if one nation comes under communist control then neighboring nations will also come under communist control
  

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• . A political theory current in the 1960's, according to which the conversion of one country in South Asia to communism will start a sequential process causing all Asian countries to convert to Communism. The apparent assumption was that an Asian country with a Western orientation was as politically unstable as a domino standing on edge. Used by some as a justification for American involvement in the Vietnam war, 1964-1972.

Webster 1913

• (Chem.), the theory, originated by Lavoisier and developed by Berzelius, that all definite compounds are binary in their nature, and consist of two distinct constituents, themselves simple or complex, and possessed of opposite chemical or electrical affinities.

Webster 1913

• that theory of heat which assumes it to be, not a peculiar kind of matter, but a peculiar motion of the ultimate particles of matter.

Webster 1913

• noun (economics) a theory of commercial activities (such as the production and consumption of goods)
  

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• noun a generalization of special relativity to include gravity (based on the principle of equivalence)
  Einstein's general theory of relativity; general relativity; general relativity theory.
  

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• noun a physical theory of relativity based on the assumption that the speed of light in a vacuum is a constant and the assumption that the laws of physics are invariant in all inertial systems
  special relativity theory; Einstein's special theory of relativity; special relativity.
  

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• noun (physics) the theory that space and time are relative concepts rather than absolute concepts
  Einstein's theory of relativity; relativity; relativity theory.
  

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• (Physics), a theory of light which makes it consist in the rapid alternation of transient electric currents moving transversely to the direction of the ray.

Webster 1913

• (Physics), the theory of Newton, regarding light as consisting of emitted particles or corpuscles. See Corpuscular theory, under Corpuscular.

Webster 1913

• (Biol. & Med.), the theory that most if not all, infectious or zymotic disease are caused by the introduction into the organism of the living germs of ferments, or ferments already developed (organized ferments), by which processes of fermentation are set up injurious to health. See Germ theory.

Webster 1913

• noun (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
  

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• noun group theory applied to the solution of algebraic equations
  

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• noun (economics) a theory of competition stated in terms of gains and losses among opposing players
  game theory.
  

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• noun a generalization of special relativity to include gravity (based on the principle of equivalence)
  Einstein's general theory of relativity; general relativity; general relativity theory.
  

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• noun a generalization of special relativity to include gravity (based on the principle of equivalence)
  Einstein's general theory of relativity; general relativity; general relativity theory.
  

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• noun (medicine) the theory that all contagious diseases are caused by microorganisms
  

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• (Biol.), the theory that living organisms can be produced only by the evolution or development of living germs or seeds. See Biogenesis, and Abiogenesis. As applied to the origin of disease, the theory claims that the zymotic diseases are due to the rapid development and multiplication of various bacteria, the germs or spores of which are either contained in the organism itself, or transferred through the air or water. See Fermentation theory.

Webster 1913

• . (Geol.) See Glacier theory, under Glacier.

Webster 1913

• (Geol.), the theory that large parts of the frigid and temperate zones were covered with ice during the glacial, or ice, period, and that, by the agency of this ice, the loose materials on the earth's surface, called drift or diluvium, were transported and accumulated.

Webster 1913

• noun (physics) the theory that any two particles of matter attract one another with a force directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them
  theory of gravitation; gravitational theory; Newton's theory of gravitation.
  

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• noun the branch of mathematics dealing with groups
  

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• noun the theory that the parts of any whole cannot exist and cannot be understood except in their relation to the whole
  holism.
  
  • holism holds that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts
  • holistic theory has been applied to ecology and language and mental states

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• adverb with regard to fundamentals although not concerning details
  in principle; in essence.
  
  • in principle, we agree

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• noun (computer science) a statistical theory dealing with the limits and efficiency of information processing
  

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• noun (physics) a theory that gases consist of small particles in random motion
  kinetic theory.
  

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• noun (physics) a theory that gases consist of small particles in random motion
  kinetic theory.
  

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• noun a theory that the temperature of a body increases when kinetic energy increases
  

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• noun (particle physics) a theory that involves an eleven-dimensional universe in which the weak and strong forces and gravity are unified and to which all the string theories belong
  

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• noun Malthus' theory that population increase would outpace increases in the means of subsistence
  Malthusianism.
  

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• (Geol.), the theory of Werner, which referred the formation of all rocks and strata to the agency of water; opposed to the Plutonic theory.

Webster 1913

• noun (physics) the theory that any two particles of matter attract one another with a force directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them
  theory of gravitation; gravitational theory; Newton's theory of gravitation.
  

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• . See Note under Light.

Webster 1913

• noun (chemistry) the theory that all indicators are either weak acids or weak bases in which the color of the ionized form is different from the color before dissociation
  Ostwald's theory of indicators.
  

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• noun a doctrine accepted by adherents to a philosophy
  philosophical doctrine.
  

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• noun the branch of geology studying the folding and faulting of the earth's crust
  plate tectonics; tectonics.
  

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• . (Geol.) See Plutonism.

Webster 1913

• noun an orientation that characterizes the thinking of a group or nation
  ideology; political orientation.
  

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• noun the branch of applied mathematics that deals with probabilities
  probability theory.
  

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• noun the branch of quantum physics that is concerned with the theory of fields; it was motivated by the question of how an atom radiates light as its electrons jump from excited states
  

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• noun (physics) a physical theory that certain properties occur only in discrete amounts (quanta)
  

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• noun (physics) the theory that space and time are relative concepts rather than absolute concepts
  Einstein's theory of relativity; relativity; relativity theory.
  

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• noun a theory that explains scientific observations
  
  • scientific theories must be falsifiable

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• noun the branch of pure mathematics that deals with the nature and relations of sets
  

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• noun a physical theory of relativity based on the assumption that the speed of light in a vacuum is a constant and the assumption that the laws of physics are invariant in all inertial systems
  special relativity theory; Einstein's special theory of relativity; special relativity.
  

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• noun a physical theory of relativity based on the assumption that the speed of light in a vacuum is a constant and the assumption that the laws of physics are invariant in all inertial systems
  special relativity theory; Einstein's special theory of relativity; special relativity.
  

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• noun (cosmology) the theory that the universe maintains a constant average density with matter created to fill the void left by galaxies that are receding from each other
  continuous creation theory.
  
  • the steady state theory has been abandoned in favor of the big bang theory

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• . See Stimulism (a).

Webster 1913

• noun (particle physics) a theory that postulates that subatomic particles are one-dimensional strings
  

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• noun (chemistry) theory that describes aqueous solutions in terms of acids (which dissociate to give hydrogen ions) and bases (which dissociate to give hydroxyl ions); the product of an acid and a base is a salt and water
  theory of dissociation; Arrhenius theory of dissociation.
  

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• noun (chemistry) theory that describes aqueous solutions in terms of acids (which dissociate to give hydrogen ions) and bases (which dissociate to give hydroxyl ions); the product of an acid and a base is a salt and water
  theory of dissociation; Arrhenius theory of dissociation.
  

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• noun (biology) a scientific theory of the origin of species of plants and animals
  evolutionism; theory of evolution.
  

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• noun (economics) a theory of competition stated in terms of gains and losses among opposing players
  game theory.
  

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• noun (physics) the theory that any two particles of matter attract one another with a force directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them
  theory of gravitation; gravitational theory; Newton's theory of gravitation.
  

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• noun (physics) the theory that any two particles of matter attract one another with a force directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them
  theory of gravitation; gravitational theory; Newton's theory of gravitation.
  

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• noun (chemistry) the theory that all indicators are either weak acids or weak bases in which the color of the ionized form is different from the color before dissociation
  Ostwald's theory of indicators.
  

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• noun (biology) a theory of how characteristics of one generation are derived from earlier generations
  

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• noun (biology) a scientific theory of the origin of species of plants and animals
  evolutionism; theory of evolution.
  

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• noun 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
  preformation.
  

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• noun the branch of applied mathematics that deals with probabilities
  probability theory.
  

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• noun a theory of evolution holding that evolutionary change in the fossil record came in fits and starts rather than in a steady process of slow change
  punctuated equilibrium.
  

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• noun (physics) the theory that space and time are relative concepts rather than absolute concepts
  Einstein's theory of relativity; relativity; relativity theory.
  

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• adjective satellite based in theory rather than experiment
  
  • theory-based arguments and positions

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• noun (physics) the theory that light is transmitted as waves
  wave theory; undulatory theory.
  

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• (of light) (Opt.), that theory which regards its various phenomena as due to undulations in an ethereal medium, propagated from the radiant with immense, but measurable, velocities, and producing different impressions on the retina according to their amplitude and frequency, the sensation of brightness depending on the former, that of color on the latter. The undulations are supposed to take place, not in the direction of propagation, as in the air waves constituting sound, but transversely, and the various phenomena of refraction, polarization, interference, etc., are attributable to the different affections of these undulations in different circumstances of propagation. It is computed that the frequency of the undulations corresponding to the several colors of the spectrum ranges from 458 millions of millions per second for the extreme red ray, to 727 millions of millions for the extreme violet, and their lengths for the same colors, from the thirty-eight thousandth to the sixty thousandth part of an inch. The theory of ethereal undulations is applicable not only to the phenomena of light, but also to those of heat.

Webster 1913

• (Chem.), the modern theory that the molecules of all complete compounds are units, whose parts are bound together in definite structure, with mutual and reciprocal influence on each other, and are not mere aggregations of more or less complex groups; distinguished from the dualistic theory.

Webster 1913

• noun (physics) the theory that light is transmitted as waves
  wave theory; undulatory theory.
  

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• . (Physics) See Undulatory theory, under Undulatory.

Webster 1913

• noun (physics) the theory that light is transmitted as waves
  wave theory; undulatory theory.
  

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• (Shipbuilding), a system or theory of designing the lines of a vessel, which takes into consideration the length and shape of a wave which travels at a certain speed.

Webster 1913