experiment

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive)
• HYPHEN: ex=per=i=ment

CIDE DICTIONARY

experiment, n. [L. experimentum, fr. experiri to try: cf. OF. esperiment, experiment. See Experience.].

•  A trial or special observation, made to confirm or disprove something uncertain; esp., one under controlled conditions determined by the experimenter; an act or operation undertaken in order to discover some unknown principle or effect, or to test, establish, or illustrate some hypothesis, theory, or known truth; practical test; proof.  [1913 Webster]

  "A political experiment can not be made in a laboratory, nor determined in a few hours."  [1913 Webster]
•  Experience.  [1913 Webster]

  "Adam, by sad experiment I know
  How little weight my words with thee can find."  [1913 Webster]

experiment, v. t. 

 To make experiment; to operate by test or trial; -- often with on, upon, or in, referring to the subject of an experiment; with, referring to the instrument; and by, referring to the means; as, to experiment upon electricity; he experimented in plowing with ponies, or by steam power.  [1913 Webster]

experiment, v. t. 

 To try; to know, perceive, or prove, by trial or experience.  Sir T. Herbert.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

experiment, n. & v.
--n.
1 a procedure adopted on the chance of its succeeding, for testing a hypothesis etc., or to demonstrate a known fact.
2 (foll. by of) a test or trial of.
--v.intr. (often foll. by on, with) make an experiment.

Derivative

experimentation n. experimenter n.

Etymology

ME f. OF experiment or L experimentum (as EXPERIENCE)

THESAURUS

experiment

analysis, analyze, approach, assay, attempt, bid, bring to test, confirm, crack, cut and try, effort, endeavor, enquiry, essay, examination, examine, experimentation, fling, gambit, give a try, give a tryout, go, have a go, inquiry, investigate, investigation, lick, move, offer, play around with, policy, practice upon, probe, procedure, proof, prove, put to trial, research, road-test, run a sample, sample, scrutinize, search, shake down, shot, stab, step, stroke, strong bid, study, substantiate, taste, tentative, test, trial, trial and error, trial run, try, try anything once, try it on, try out, undertaking, validate, verify, weigh, whack

ROGET THESAURUS

experiment

Essay

VB try, essay, experiment, endeavor, strive, tempt, attempt, make an attempt, venture, adventure, speculate, take one's chance, tempt fortune, try one's fortune, try one's luck, try one's hand, use one's endeavor, feel one's way, grope one's way, pick one's way, try hard, push, make a bold push, use one's best endeavor, do one's best.

Experiment

N experiment, essay, analysis, screen, trial, tentative method, t=atonnement, verification, probation, experimentum crucis, proof, (demonstration), criterion, diagnostic, test, probe, crucial test, acid test, litmus test, crucible, reagent, check, touchstone, pix, assay, ordeal, ring, litmus paper, curcuma paper, turmeric paper, test tube, analytical instruments, empiricism, rule of thumb, feeler, trial balloon, pilot balloon, messenger balloon, pilot engine, scout, straw to show the wind, speculation, random shot, leap in the dark, analyzer, analyst, assayist, adventurer, experimenter, experimentist, experimentalist, scientist, engineer, technician, subject, experimentee, guinea pig, experimental animal, protocol, experimental method, blind experiment, double-blind experiment, controlled experiment, poll, survey, opinion poll, epidemiological survey, retrospective analysis, retrospective survey, prospective survey, prospective analysis, statistical analysis, literature search, library research, tryout, audition, discovery, measurement, evidence, deduction, induction, abduction, experimental, empirical, probative, probatory, probationary, provisional, analytic, docimastic, tentative, unverified, unproven, speculative, untested, on trial, under examination, on probation, under probation, on one's trial, on approval, check it out, give it a try, see how it goes, Run it up the flagpole and see who salutes.

VB experiment, essay, try, try out, assay, make an experiment, make a trial of, give a trial to, put on trial, subject to trial, experiment upon, rehearse, put to the test, bring to the test, submit to the test, submit to the proof, prove, verify, test, touch, practice upon, try one's strength, road-test, test drive, take for a spin, test fly, grope, feel one's way, grope for one's way, fumble, t=atonner, aller =a t=atons, put out a feeler, throw out a feeler, send up a trial balloon, send up a pilot balloon, see how the land lies, get the lay of the land, test the waters, feel out, sound out, take the pulse, see, check, check out, see how the wind blows, consult the barometer, feel the pulse, fish for, bob for, cast for, beat about for, angle, trawl, cast one's net, beat the bushes, try one's fortune, explore.

Evidence

VB be evidence, evince, show, betoken, tell of, indicate, imply, involve, argue, bespeak, breathe, have weight, carry weight, tell, speak volumes, speak for itself, rest upon, depend upon, repose on, bear witness, give evidence, testify, depose, witness, vouch for, sign, seal, undersign, set one's hand and seal, sign and seal, deliver as one's act and deed, certify, attest, acknowledge, make absolute, confirm, prove (demonstrate), indorse, countersign, corroborate, support, ratify, bear out, uphold, warrant, adduce, attest, cite, quote, refer to, appeal to, call, call to witness, bring forward, bring into court, allege, plead, produce witnesses, confront witnesses, place into evidence, mark into evidence, collect evidence, bring together evidence, rake up evidence, experiment, have a case, make out a case, establish, authenticate, substantiate, verify, make good, quote chapter and verse, bring home to, bring to book.