- 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"
--1 is a kind of explanation
--1 has parts: law, law of nature; hypothesis, possibility, theory
--1 has particulars:- hypothesis, possibility, theory - 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"
--2 is a kind of concept, conception, construct
--2 is a part of theory
--2 has particulars:model, theoretical account, framework; speculation, conjecture; assumption, supposition, supposal Derived forms: verb theorize1, verb theorise1 - theory - 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"
--3 is a kind of belief
--3 has particulars: patchwork, hodgepodge, jumbleDerived forms: verb theorize1, verb theorise1 - hypothesis, possibility, theory - 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"