Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.

Theory

Definitions: Theory

Theory

Noun

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; "theories can incorporate facts and laws and tested hypotheses"; "true in fact and theory".

2. A tentative theory about the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena; "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".

3. A belief that can guide behavior; "the architect has a theory that more is less"; "they killed him on the theory that dead men tell no tales".

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
 

Date "theory" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1321. (references)


Specialty Definitions: Theory

DomainDefinitions

Computing

Theory n. The consensus, idea, plan, story, or set of rules that is currently being used to inform a behavior. This usage is a generalization and (deliberate) abuse of the technical meaning. "What's the theory on fixing this TECO loss?" "What's the theory on dinner tonight?" ("Chinatown, I guess.") "What's the current theory on letting lusers on during the day?" "The theory behind this change is to fix the following well-known screw....". Source: Jargon File.

Science

An explanation for some phenomenon that is based on observation, experimentation, and reasoning. (references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Top     

Specialty Definition: Theory

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

In mathematics, a theory is a set of statements closed under logical implication. In mathematical logic, "theory" is the term for a set of well-formed formulae consisting of certain axioms and all theorems provable from said axioms. Gödel's incompleteness theorem states that no consistent theory, with a finite number of axioms (in a language at least as strong as arithmetic), can include all true statements.

In science, a theory is a model of reality, used for rationalizing, explaining, predicting, and mastering physical phenomena. There is a difference between the technical term and its common usage. A theory has to be something which is in some way testable; for example, one can theorize that an apple will fall when dropped, and then drop an apple, to see what happens. Many scientists, but not all, argue that religious beliefs are not testable, and thus not theories, because they are matters of faith.

According to Stephen Hawking in A Brief History of Time, "a theory is a good theory if it satisfies two requirements: It must accurately describe a large class of observations on the basis of a model that contains only a few arbitrary elements, and it must make definite predictions about the results of future observations." He goes on to state..."Any physical theory is always provisional, in the sense that it is only a hypothesis; you can never prove it. No matter how many times the results of experiments agree with some theory, you can never be sure that the next time the result will not contradict the theory. On the other hand, you can disprove a theory by finding even a single observation that disagrees with the predictions of the theory."

There are two types of theories; a supposition which is not backed by observation is known as a conjecture, and if backed by observation it is a hypothesis. A theory is different from a theorem. The former is a model of physical events and cannot be proved from basic axioms. The latter is a statement of mathematical fact which logically follows from a set of axioms. A theory is also different from a physical law in that the former is a model of reality whereas the latter is a statement of what has been observed.

The word theoretical is derived from theory, and is used to describe that which has not yet been observed. For example, until recently, black holes were theoretical.

Theories can become accepted if they are able to make correct predictions and avoid incorrect ones. Theories which are simplier, and more mathematically elegant, tend to be accepted over theories which are complex. Theories are more likely to be accepted if they connect a wide range of phenonomena. The process of accepting theories is part of the scientific method.

Further explanation of a scientific theory

In common usage a theory is often viewed as little more than a guess or a hypothesis. But in science, a theory is much more than that. A theory is an established paradigm that explains all of the data we have and offers valid predictions that can be tested. In science, a theory can never be proven true, because we can never assume we know all there is to know. Instead, theories remain standing until they are disproven, at which point they are thrown out altogether or modified slightly.

Some theories that have been disproved are those such as Lamarckism and the geocentric universe theory. Sufficient evidence has risen to declare these theories false.

Often the statement "Well, it's just a theory," is used to dismiss controversial theories such as evolution, but in science a theory usually

  1. is supported by many strands of evidence rather than a single foundation, ensuring that it probably is a good approximation if not totally correct,
  2. has survived many critical tests that could have proven it false,
  3. makes predictions that might someday be used to disprove the theory, and
  4. is the best known explanation, in the sense of Occam's Razor, of the infinite variety of alternative explanations for the same data.

This is true of such established theories as evolution, special and general relativity, quantum mechanics (with minimal interpretation), plate tectonics, etc. Unfortunately the usage is muddled by cases like string theory and "theories of everything," each probably better characterized at present as a bundle of competing hypotheses. A hypothesis, however, is still vastly more reliable than a conjecture, which is at best an untested guess consistent with selected data, and is often a belief based on non-repeatable experiments, anecdotes, popular opinion, "wisom of the ancients," commercial motivation, or mysticism.

A good example of a non-scientific "theory" is Intelligent Design. Likewise, other claims such as homeopathy are also not theories.

See also:

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Theory."

Top     

Synonyms: Theory

Synonyms: hypothesis (n), possibility (n). (additional references)

Top     

Synonyms within Context: Theory

ContextSynonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus).

Attribution

Noun: attribution, theory, etiology, ascription, reference to, rationale; accounting for; v; palaetiology, imputation, derivation from.

Chance 2

Statistics, theory of Probabilities, theory of Chances; bookmaking; assurance; speculation, gaming.

Idea

View; (opinion); theory; conceit, fancy; phantasy; (imagination).point of view; (aspect); field of view.

Information

Information theory.

Knowledge

System of knowledge, body of knowledge; science, philosophy, pansophy; acroama; theory, aetiology, etiology; circle of the sciences; pandect, doctrine, body of doctrine; cyclopedia, encyclopedia; school; (system of opinions).

Money

Monetarist, monetary theory.

Possibility

Phrase: misericordia Domini inter pontem et fontent; " the glories of the Possible are ours "; anything is possible; in theory possible, but in practise unlikely.

Supposition

Noun: supposition, assumption, assumed position, postulation, condition, presupposition, hypothesis, blue sky hypothesis, postulate, postulatum, theory; thesis, theorem; data; proposition, position; proposal; (plan); presumption; (belief); divination.

Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus.

Top     

Crosswords: Theory

English words defined with "theory": Arrhenius theory of dissociation, atomic theorybig bang theory, big-bang theory, Bohr theorycell theory, Cellular theory, Corpuscular theory, corpuscular theory of lightDynamical theory of heateconomic theory, Einstein's special theory of relativity, Einstein's theory of relativity, Electro-magnetic theory of light, Emission theoryFermentation theory of diseaseGalois theory, game theory, germ theory, Glacier theory, gravitational theoryinformation theorykinetic theory, kinetic theory of gases, kinetic theory of heatMalthusian theoryNeptunian theory, Newton's theory of gravitationOstwald's theory of indicatorsquantum field theory, quantum theoryrelativity theoryscientific theory, special relativity theory, special theory of relativitytheory of dissociation, theory of electrolytic dissociation, theory of evolution, theory of games, theory of gravitation, theory of gravity, theory of indicators, theory of inheritance, theory of organic evolution, theory of preformation, theory of relativityundulatory theory, Unitary theorywave theory, wave theory of light. (references)
Specialty definitions using "theory": abyssal theory, AGM Theory for Belief Revision, Airborne Snow Water Equivalent Measurement Theory, Airy's theory, anticlinal theory, Arlt theory, Arlt's theory, Array Theory, ascension theory, automata theoryBaconian Theory, Binary Theory, Bligh's creep theoryCohn theory, Cohn's theory, complete theory, computability theory, Cornell Theory Center, crater theorydecision theory, descension theory, domain theory, drift theoryEdridge-Green theory, Edridge-Green theory of color visiongames theory, Gibson's theory, Grand Unified Theory, Griffith theory, Griffith's theoryharmless depth theory, hit theory, Holm theoryin situ origin theory, Ionic TheoryLexis theorymagnetoionic theory, membrane theory, Mie theory, Milankovich theory, Milankovitch theory, Mohr's theoryNewman's theory, Neyman-Pearson theory, normal theorypeat-to-anthracite theory, proof theoryquantum theory of radiationrandom walk theory, Rankine's theory, recursion theory, Rziha's theorySchulz's theory, semi-rigid theory, sublimation theorytarget theory, theory change, theory of lateral secretion, Third Theory of Comminutionundation theory, Unit Hydrograph Theoryvon Graefe theorywave theory of cyclogenesis, wave theory of cyclones, wave theory of radiationZermelo Fränkel set theory, Zermelo set theory, zonal theory. (references)

Top     

Modern Usage: Theory

DomainUsage

Screenplays

It's an interesting theory. (Trainspotting; writing credit: Irvine Welsh; John Hodge)

That's, that's chaos theory. (Jurassic Park; writing credit: Michael Crichton)

My theory is that everyone is a potential murderer. (Strangers on a Train; writing credit: Raymond Chandler; Whitfield Cook)

In theory, yes. (The Simpsons; writing credit: Artur Brauner; Paul Hengge)

Good grief, man, it's as simple as Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity! (Doctor Who; writing credit: Basil Caplan; Martin Defalco)

Lyrics

Playing discord in theory and that chord too (Flipper Twist; performing artist: Flipper)

Everyone's got a theory about the bitter one (To the Moon and Back; performing artist: Savage Garden)

Clever

Scientists have odious manners, except when you prop up their theory; then you can borrow money of them. (references; author: Mark Twain)

I believe in the Big Bang theory. God spoke and BANG!, it was. (references; author: unknown)

You are an engineer if your three-year-old son asks why the sky is blue, and you try to explain atmospheric absorption theory. (references; author: unknown)

Movie/TV Titles

Dr. Rhinestone's Theory (1967)

Part 1: Basic Principles Theory of the C-1 Autopilot (1943)

Shadow Theory (1928)

Darwin's Theory of Evolution (1923)

The Einstein Theory of Relativity (1923)

Song Titles

Tell Me (performing artist: Groove Theory)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Top     

Commercial Usage: Theory

DomainTitle

Books

  • Aesthetical Essays: Studies in Aesthetic Theory, Hindustani Music and Kathak Dance (reference)

  • John Philoponus Criticism of Aristotle's Theory of Aether (Peripatol Philologisch-Historische Studienzum Aristotelismus, Vol 16) (reference)

  • Ultrasonic Absorption: An Introduction to the Theory of Sound Absorption and Dispersion in Gases, Liquids, and Solids (reference)

  • Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Acm Symposium on Theory of Computing: Hersonissos, Crete, Greece July 6-8, 2001 (Proceedings of the Annual Acm Symposium on Theory of Computing, 33rd) (reference)

  • Conceptualizing Music: Cognitive Structure, Theory, and Analysis (Ams Studies in Music Series) (reference)

    (more book examples)

  

Periodicals

  

Theater & Movies

  • The Auteur Theory (reference)

  • Theory and Operation of Operational Amplifiers (reference)

  • What's Behind the Empty Chair: Gestalt Therapy Theory and Methodology (reference)

  • The Mel Gibson Collection (Conspiracy Theory, Lethal Weapon, Maverick) (reference)

  • Theory and Application of Neonatal Ventilation: What, When, and Why (reference)

    (more DVD examples; more video examples)

  

Music

  

High Tech

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Top     

Image Slideshow: Theory

Computer Images:
Theory

More images...

Top     

Photo Album: Theory

ThumbnailDescription & CreditThumbnailDescription & Credit

H. Julian Allen with Blunt Body Theory.Credit: NASA.

C&GS Ship PIONEER under Golden Gate Bridge Magnetometer invented at Scripps deployed on this ship in late 1950's Surveys from Pt. Conception to Cape Flattery discovered magnetic striping Magnetic striping led to Theory of Seafloor Spreading H. W. Menard called "among most significant geophysical surveys ever made".Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection.

Deep discovered by OCEANOGRAPHER in Red Sea This and other similar deeps contained hot brines Another confirmation of the Theory of Seafloor Spreading OCEANOGRAPHER around the world cruise.Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection.

Brooks Range visible miles away over the flat Arctic plain Such views lend credence to the flat earth theory Just kidding!.Credit: Paths Less Taken - NOAA at the Ends of the Earth.

North Inlet - Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. This rainbow over Winyah Bay supports the theory that estuaries are pots of gold .Credit: National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERR).

In: "The Meteor Expedition," by F. Spiess, German Atlantic Expedition 1925-1927. Results of the METEOR expedition. This simple diagram, showing a cold pool on the west side of the Atlantic with different salinity, established the continuity of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a step on the road to formulating the theory of seafloor spreading. Library Call Number C/La S755.Credit: Sailing for Science - the NOAA Fleet Then and Now.

Dr. Francis P. Shepard, the "father of marine geology," discussing scientific findings of the International Indian Ocean Expedition on board the Coast and Geodetic Survey Ship PIONEER at a press conference in Colombo, Ceylon. Looking on were Dr. Robert Dietz, an early pioneer in plate tectonic theory, and Dr. Harris B. Stewart, Chief Oceanographer of the Coast and Geodetic Survey.Credit: Sailing for Science - the NOAA Fleet Then and Now.

Theory. Practice. Effect.Credit: Library of Congress.

Try to make out my theory and your income tax work will look simple! / Berryman.Credit: Library of Congress.

Another European theory is that America is without a peer at wrecking the beauties of nature.Credit: Library of Congress.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Top     

Familiar Quotations: Theory

AuthorQuotation

Benjamin Disraeli

Read no history: nothing but biography, for that is life without theory.

Friedrich Engels

An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory.

Harold S. Geneen

You can't run a business or anything else on a theory.

Michel Eyquem De Montaigne

Socrates thought and so do I that the wisest theory about the gods is no theory at all.

Mikhail A. Bakunin

Throw theory into the fire; it only spoils life.

Niels Bohr

Your theory is crazy--but not crazy enough to be true.

Samuel Johnson

All theory is against freedom of the will; all experience for it.

Steven Wright

My theory of evolution is that Darwin was adopted.

Walt Whitman

The whole theory of the universe is directed unerringly to one single individual.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Top     

Historic Usage: Theory

AuthorDateQuotation

Marbury v. Madison

1803

This would be to overthrow in fact what was established in theory; and would seem, at first view, an absurdity too gross to be insisted on. (reference)

Communist Manifesto

1848

In this sense, the theory of the Communists may be summed up in the single sentence: Abolition of private property. (reference)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Top     

Use in Literature: Theory

TitleAuthorQuote

Sylvie and Bruno

Carroll, Lewis

The Researcher felt that a Theory must be constructed without delay.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Douglas Adams

At first Ford had formed a theory to account for this strange behavior.

Scarlet Letter

Hawthorne, Nathaniel

The latter is perhaps the truest theory.

Les Miserables

Hugo, Victor

They were just at that time beginning in the diagnosis and treatment of lung diseases to follow the fine theory of Laennec.

Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

Joyce, James

In finding the answers to them I found the theory of esthetic which I am trying to explain.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Top     

Non-Fiction Usage: Theory

SubjectTopicQuote

Health

Another hypothesis, involving the hormones called glucocorticoids, ties in with this theory. (references)

One theory being studied is that IC is an autoimmune response following a bladder infection. (references)

Some evidence for this theory comes from studies on the effect of tobacco smoke on lung cells. (references)

Business

These processes can take in theory up to 120 calendar days for a concession and 90 for a permit. (references)

Training in foreign languages tends to focus on theory rather than on conversational fluency, as financial constraints and government regulations limit the number of native-English-speaking teachers. (references)

Spain applies the "freedom of contract" theory, by which the contracting parties may establish any stipulation, condition, or undertake anything that it does not violate Spanish law, morals, or public policy. (references)

Children

Zambia

Some areas have established community schools that in theory are free; however, these schools have fewer resources than public schools and require contributions from parents. (references)

Latvia

An estimated 12 to 15 percent of prostitutes are between the ages of 8 and 18. Although in theory the Constitution and the law protect children, these rights are enforced only sporadically in the case of child prostitutes. (references)

Civil Liberties

Vietnam

Holders of foreign passports in theory must register to stay in private homes. (references)

Economic History

Benin

The right to private ownership and investment exists in theory and practice. (references)

Guinea

Both in theory and in fact, private entities are free to acquire and dispose of interest in business enterprises. (references)

Chad

In theory, all procurement tenders are subject to free and open competition, however, manipulation of the bidding process may sometimes occur. (references)

Human Rights

Lithuania

Bail in theory is available, but it is not used widely. (references)

Cape Verde

While mechanisms for investigating citizen complaints of police brutality exist in theory, in practice these mechanisms neither ensure the punishment of those responsible nor prevent future violations. (references)

Iraq

Procedures in the regular courts in theory provide for many protections; however, the Government often assigns to the security courts cases that, on their legal merits, would appear to fall under the jurisdiction of the regular courts. (references)

Political Economy

Cote D'ivoire

The constitution also, in theory, guarantees basic human rights, including freedom of speech, assembly and the press. (references)

Argentina

Many rights are reserved by the provinces under the constitution, in theory, producing a balance between federal and provincial authority. (references)

Indonesia

While well-intentioned in theory, the implementation of decentralization has been uneven and many issues involving power- and revenue-sharing between the central and local governments remain unresolved. (references)

Political Rights

Mauritania

Although voters in theory could take the unused cards out of the polling place with them, the ready availability of many unused cards on the floor makes the cards worthless as evidence of how a voter has voted and effectively eliminates the potential for abuse in such a multiple ballot system. (references)

Trade

Nigeria

The CBN will release the forex (in theory) within three working days from the date of intervention. (references)

Georgia

At time of writing, the old Soviet system of product standards, which lists some 26,000 standards, still applies in theory. (references)

Women

Barbados

Criminal penalties for violent crimes, in theory, are the same regardless of the sex of the offender or the victim. (references)

Netherlands

In addition the licensing system in theory makes prostitution more transparent and easier for the police to monitor. (references)

Estonia

Although women have the same legal rights as men under the law and are entitled in theory to equal pay for equal work, this was not the case in practice. (references)

Worker Rights

Uzbekistan

Overtime pay exists in theory but is not always paid in practice. (references)

Liberia

There are government-established health and safety standards, enforced in theory by the Ministry of Labor. (references)

Chile

Public employees in theory do not enjoy the right to strike, although government teachers, municipal, and health workers have struck in the past. (references)

Lexicography

Devil's Dictionary

TIGHTS, n. An habiliment of the stage designed to reinforce the general acclamation of the press agent with a particular publicity. Public attention was once somewhat diverted from this garment to Miss Lillian Russell's refusal to wear it, and many were the conjectures as to her motive, the guess of Miss Pauline Hall showing a high order of ingenuity and sustained reflection. It was Miss Hall's belief that nature had not endowed Miss Russell with beautiful legs. This theory was impossible of acceptance by the male understanding, but the conception of a faulty female leg was of so prodigious originality as to rank among the most brilliant feats of philosophical speculation! It is strange that in all the controversy regarding Miss Russell's aversion to tights no one seems to have thought to ascribe it to what was known among the ancients as "modesty." The nature of that sentiment is now imperfectly understood, and possibly incapable of exposition with the vocabulary that remains to us. The study of lost arts has, however, been recently revived and some of the arts themselves recovered. This is an epoch of renaissances, and there is ground for hope that the primitive "blush" may be dragged from its hiding-place amongst the tombs of antiquity and hissed on to the stage.

Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

Top     

Spoken Usage: Theory

SpeakerPhrase(s)

Rush Limbaugh

It's an undeniable theory that, up to a point, the lower tax rates are, the more economic activity will take place.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Top     

Speeches: Theory

SpeakerTermPhrase(s)

James Madison

1809-1817However wise the theory may be which leaves to the sagacity and interest of individuals the application of their industry and resources, there are in this as in other cases exceptions to the general rule.

James K. Polk

1845-1849By the theory of our Government majorities rule, but this right is not an arbitrary or unlimited one.

Franklin Pierce

1853-1857To every theory of society or government, whether the offspring of feverish ambition or of morbid enthusiasm, calculated to dissolve the bonds of law and affection which unite us, I shall interpose a ready and stern resistance.

Ulysses S. Grant

1869-1877The theory of government changes with general progress.

Grover Cleveland

1885-1889; 1893-1897If we exact from unwilling minds acquiescence in the theory of an honest distribution of the fund of the governmental beneficence treasured up for all, we but insist upon a principle which underlies our free institutions.

Warren G. Harding

1921-1923There is a luring fallacy in the theory of banished barriers of trade, but preserved American standards require our higher production costs to be reflected in our tariffs on imports.

George W. Bush

2001-2005When I was looking for somebody to run the Department of Education, I wasn't interested in anybody who was good on the theory.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Top     

Usage Frequency: Theory

"Theory" is generally used as a noun (singular) -- approximately 99.91% of the time. "Theory" is used about 13,115 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted)
Parts of SpeechPercentUsage per
100 Million Words
Rank in English
Noun (singular)99.91%13,103698
Noun (proper)0.09%12101,599
                    Total100.00%13,115N/A

Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.

Top     

Expression: Theory

Expressions using "theory": accommodate facts to theory adaptive resonance theory agm Theory for Belief Revision Airy's theory Allievi's theory of surge pressures anticlinal theory arbitrage pricing theory Arlt theory Arlt's theory array Theory arrhenius theory of dissociation ascension theory Atomic theory automata theory axiomatic set theory baconian theory ballot theory big bang theory Binary theory Bligh's creep theory Bohr theory carry a theory into practice cell theory Cellular theory Cohn theory Cohn's theory communication theory complete theory computability theory Control theory Cornell Theory Center Corpuscular theory corpuscular theory of light data processing theory decision theory dependency theory Development theory Dingdong theory domain theory Domino theory dopamine theory Dualistic theory Dynamical theory of heat economic fire protection theory economic theory educational theory Einstein's general theory of relativity Einstein's special theory of relativity Einstein's theory of relativity Emission theory espouse a theory Fermentation theory Fermentation theory of disease Freudian Theory fuzzy set theory fuzzy theory Galois theory game theory games theory general relativity theory general systems theory general theory of relativity Germ theory Gestalt Theory Gibson's theory Glacial theory Glacier theory grand unification theory grand unified theory gravitational theory Griffith theory group theory Hecht theory hit theory Holm theory in theory in theory possible information theory instructional theory Jungian Theory kinetic theory kinetic theory of gases kinetic theory of heat least cost plus fire protection theory Lexis theory lunar theory malthusian theory monetary theory Neptunian theory Newman's theory newtonian theory of light Newton's theory of gravitation Nursing Theory Oort's Storage Cloud Theory Ostwald's theory of indicators Personal Construct Theory philosophical theory plutonic theory political theory Probability Theory proof theory. Additional references.

Hyphenated Usage

Beginning with "theory": theory-based, theory-builders, theory-building, theory-crammed, theory-dependence, theory-dependent, theory-driven, theory-formation, theory-independent, theory-informed, theory-laden, theory-loading, theory-makers, theory-making, theory-moulded, theory-neutrality, theory-of-finance, theory-of-mind, theory-part, theory-practice, theory-specialist, theory-specific, theory-testing, theory-unladen.

Ending with "theory": counter-theory.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Top     

Frequency of Internet Keywords: Theory

The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com.
 
ExpressionFrequency
per Day
  ExpressionFrequency
per Day

  theory of punishment

698

  motivation theory

129

  conspiracy theory

689

  leadership theory

121

  music theory

638

  nursing theory

115

  juliana theory

524

  guitar theory

108

  chaos theory

492

  social learning theory

106

  theory

477

  quantum theory

105

  big bang theory

409

  hybrid theory

101

  theory of a deadman

315

  personality theory

100

  juliana lyrics theory

301

  conflict theory

96

  theory of relativity

245

  management theory

94

  theory of a dead man

245

  system theory

94

  game theory

234

  test theory

88

  theory of evolution

222

  matrix theory

85

  learning theory

221

  number theory

83

  color theory

219

  theory clothing

83

  string theory

171

  cult defense modesto peterson taina team theory

83

  heliocentric theory

151

  voice of theory

82

  theory of constraint

143

  graph theory

76

  driving test theory

141

  constraint continuous improvement management strategy theory

76

  communication theory

132

  formulated heliocentric theory who

76
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Top     

Modern Translations: Theory

Language Translations for "theory"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses.

Albanian

  

teori (hypothesis, ism). (various references)

   

Arabic 

  

‏نظرية (behaviorism, behaviourism, notion), ‏الجانب النظري من علم أو فن, ‏رأي (consideration, deliverance, feeling, idea, judgement, judgment, mind, opinion, persuasion, saw, say, sentiment, think, verdict, view). (various references)

   

Bulgarian 

  

теория (doxy, notion, speculation). (various references)

   

Chinese 

  

(by the, discuss, per, the Analects, to discuss, to talk), 理论 (theoretical, Theories), 理論 , 原理 (principle), 學說 (doctrine). (various references)

   

Czech

  

teorie (speculation), názor (estimation, feeling, idea, notion, opinion, outlook, point of view, sentiments, verdict, view, viewpoint). (various references)

   

Danish

  

teori. (various references)

   

Dutch

  

theorie. (various references)

   

Esperanto

  

teorio. (various references)

   

Faeroese

  

ástøði. (various references)

   

Farsi 

  

فرض علمی , نگرش , نظریه (Lookout, Notion, Opinion, Outlook, Recommendation, View, Viewpoint), تحقیقات نظری , علم نظری , اصل کلی (Generality), اصول نظری . (various references)

   

Finnish

  

teoria. (various references)

   

French

  

théorie. (various references)

   

Frisian

  

teory. (various references)

   

German

  

Theorie. (various references)

   

Greek 

  

θεωρία (contemplation, doctrine, ism, notion, speculation, view). (various references)

   

Hebrew 

  

תאורי", שיט" (doctrine, line, method, opinion, principle, system). (various references)

   

Hungarian

  

teória, elmélet (conception, doctrine, ism, speculation). (various references)

   

Indonesian

  

teori, ajaran (doctrine, lesson, punishment, teaching). (various references)

   

Italian

  

teoria (ism). (various references)

   

Japanese Kanji 

  

, (argument, comment, controversy, debate, discourse, discussion, dispute, doctrine, essay, treatise), 理論 , 理窟 (reason), 理屈 (reason), 原論 (principles), 原理 (fundamental truth, principle), セイファート銀河 (a second, cesium, outdoor environmental educational program for city children, safety bunt, sailer, saint, saison, second bag, second base, secondary, secondhand, secretary, section, sectioning, sector, security, security hole, segment, segmentation, sexual, sexual harassment, sexual harrassment, sexy, Seyfert galaxy, zippered carrying case), 学説 . (various references)

   

Japanese Katakana 

  

がくせつ (musical passage or section), せつ (acute, ardent, eager, earnest, filthy, keen, kind, node, occasion, section, temple, time), りくつ (reason), りろ", ろ" (argument, comment, controversy, debate, discourse, discussion, dispute, doctrine, essay, treatise), セオリー , '"り (fundamental truth, principal and interest, principle), '"ろ" (discussion, principles). (various references)

   

Korean 

  

(theoretical, Theories). (various references)

   

Malay

  

teori. (various references)

   

Manx

  

sheinys, sheiltynys (concept, conjecture, fancy, fantasy, hypothesis, presumption, speculation, supposition). (various references)

   

Pig Latin

  

eorythay

   

Portuguese

  

teoria (isobar, theoretics). (various references)

   

Romanian

  

teorie (abstraction, ideology, speculation), speculaţie (conjecture, hypothesis, speculation), ipotezã (assumption, conjecture, hypothesis, speculation, suggestion). (various references)

   

Russian 

  

теория (theoretics). (various references)

   

Serbo-Croatian

  

teorija. (various references)

   

Spanish

  

teoría. (various references)

   

Swedish

  

teori (thesis). (various references)

   

Turkish

  

teori (speculation), nazariye (theoretics), kuram (hypothesis, theorem). (various references)

   

Turkmen 

  

teoriяa (r). (various references)

   

Ukranian 

  

розділ (book, chapter, column, particle), теорія, припущення (admission, assumption, calculation, conjecture, guess, hypothesis, inference, perhaps, presumption, presupposition, subaudition, suppose, supposition, surmise). (various references)

   

Vietnamese 

  

thuyết, nguyên lý, lý luận (reasoning), học thuyết thuyết riêng lý thuyết. (various references)

   

Welsh

  

damcaniaeth. (various references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references.

Top     

Ancestral Language Translations: Theory

LanguagePeriodTranslations
Greek700 BCE-300 CE

theoria. (various references)

Latin500 BCE-Modern

ars, ratio. (