n, pl  -ries  1  :  the general or abstract principles of a body of fact, a science, or an art <the and practice of medicine>   2  :  a plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle or body of principles offered to explain natural phenomena <a of organic evolution>  - see ATOMIC THEORY CELL THEORY GERM THEORY   3  :  a working hypothesis that is considered probable based on experimental evidence or factual or conceptual analysis and is accepted as a basis for experimentation the*o*ret*i*cal also  the*o*ret*ic  adj the*o*ret*i*cal*ly adv 
 
   
 
Similar sounding terms:  Thi·ara  thio·urea  throe 
 
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