rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryexperimentTest or trial
noun / verb

experiment

ik-SPAIR-ih-muhnt/ɪkˈsperɪmənt/

A test to discover what happens or how well something works.

The scientist's experiment compares how different lighting affects two identical seedlings.

An East Asian scientist compares two identical seedlings under different lighting, controlled experiment.
Etymology
experiLatinto try, test
+mentLatinaction or result

The verb meaning “to try or test” became a noun for the testing itself. An experiment thus names the trial used to discover or prove something, rather than the knowledge gained from it.

In context

Plainly Difficult463:59
… during the experiment most test subjects showed signs of severe distress when administering the electric shock …
ReWind: Year 5 Omnibus of Plainly Difficult

More examples

  • The students repeat the experiment to check their results.
  • I experiment with different spices when I make soup.
  • The store experiments with longer hours to attract more customers.

Forms

experiment · experiments · experimented · experimenting

experimental adjective — Used to test new ideas or methods.

experimentation noun — The process of trying and testing ideas.

Similar words

test
Often checks a specific quality rather than exploring possibilities.
trial
Often evaluates something through a temporary period of use.