definition of the word theory?

Question

what is the acual definition

Answer 1

In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice.
In practice, there is.


(Yeah, I know that's not a real "definition", but it's a good summary.)

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Answer 2

Theory has a lot of different meanings.

In mathematics, a 'theory' is often used to describe an area for studying mathematical concepts. "Number Theory," for example, is the study of integer mathematics. "Algebraic Number Theory" and "Analytical Number Theory" are methods of studying number theory problems - approaches to those problems.

This usage is not the same as the sense that the 'Theory of Gravity' is a theory - they are mathematically sound, not conjectures about the real world that need to be tested.

In mathematics, we use the word 'conjecture' for ideas we think are true but we have not been proved.

In physical science, the word 'Theory' tends to have the meaning of a conjecture about the nature of the world. Newton had a 'Theory of Gravity.' Einstein had the 'Theory of Relativity.' Both have essentially stood the test of time, but have had to be slightly tweaked and altered to account for modern experimental results.

Much is made of the fact that 'Darwinism' is 'just a theory.' But 'theory' doesn't mean there is no wide scientific consensus on the validity of the idea. As with Gravity and Relativity, Darwinism's basic idea has stood the test of science, even though we've tweaked it quite a bit since he formed the theory. We know a lot more about the method of inheritance via DNA, for example. There's still a lot of specific questions we don't know about.

Answer 3

The word theory has a number of distinct meanings in different fields of knowledge, depending on their methodologies and the context of discussion.

In common usage, people often use the word theory to signify a conjecture, an opinion, or a speculation. In this usage, a theory is not necessarily based on facts; in other words, it is not required to be consistent with true descriptions of reality. True descriptions of reality are more reflectively understood as statements which would be true independently of what people think about them. In this usage, the word is synonymous with hypothesis. This common usage of theory leads to the common but misguided statement "It's not a fact, it's only a theory."

In science, a theory is a mathematical or logical explanation, or a testable model of the manner of interaction of a set of natural phenomena, capable of predicting future occurrences or observations of the same kind, and capable of being tested through experiment or otherwise falsified through empirical observation. It follows from this that for scientists "theory" and "fact" do not necessarily stand in opposition. For example, it is a fact that an apple dropped on earth has been observed to fall towards the center of the planet, and the theories commonly used to describe and explain this behaviour are Newton's theory of universal gravitation (see also gravitation), and general relativity.

Answer 4

A set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena, especially one that has been repeatedly tested or is widely accepted and can be used to make predictions about natural phenomena.
The branch of a science or art consisting of its explanatory statements, accepted principles, and methods of analysis, as opposed to practice: a fine musician who had never studied theory.
A set of theorems that constitute a systematic view of a branch of mathematics.
Abstract reasoning; speculation: a decision based on experience rather than theory.
A belief or principle that guides action or assists comprehension or judgment: staked out the house on the theory that criminals usually return to the scene of the crime.
An assumption based on limited information or knowledge; a conjecture.

Answer 5

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

Answer 6

Try dictionary.com

Answer 7

http://www.answers.com/theory&r=67

Try this to get answers of all ur Questions...

Answer 8

depends on who uses it. the context.