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n. 1. a. A test under controlled conditions that is made to demonstrate a known truth, examine the validity of a hypothesis, or determine the efficacy of something previously untried. b. The process of conducting such a test; experimentation. 2. An innovative act or procedure: "Democracy is only an experiment in government" (William Ralph Inge). 3. The result of experimentation: "We are not [nature's] only experiment" (R. Buckminster Fuller). intr.v. (-mĕnt′) ex·per·i·ment·ed, ex·per·i·ment·ing, ex·per·i·ments 1. To conduct an experiment. 2. To try something new, especially in order to gain experience: experiment with new methods of teaching. [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin experīmentum, from experīrī, to try; see per-3 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] ex·peri·ment′er n. |
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