experiment

 
Pronunciation: /ɪkˈspɛrɪm(ə)nt, ɛk-/

noun

  • a scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact: a laboratory which carried out experiments on pigs [mass noun]: I have tested this by experiment
  • a course of action tentatively adopted without being sure of the outcome: the previous experiment in liberal democracy had ended in disaster

verb

Pronunciation: /also ɪkˈspɛrɪmɛnt/
[no object]
  • perform a scientific procedure, especially in a laboratory, to determine something: experimenting on animals causes suffering
  • try out new ideas or methods: the designers experimented with new ideas in lighting

Derivatives

experimentation

Pronunciation: /-mɛnˈteɪʃ(ə)n/
noun

experimenter

noun

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin experimentum, from experiri 'try'. Compare with experience and expert