[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

theory \the"ory\, n.; pl. theories. f. th'eorie, l.
   theoria, gr. ? a beholding, spectacle, contemplation,
   speculation, fr. ? a spectator, ? to see, view. see
   theater.
   1. a doctrine, or scheme of things, which terminates in
      speculation or contemplation, without a view to practice;
      hypothesis; speculation.
      1913 webster

   note: "this word is employed by english writers in a very
         loose and improper sense. it is with them usually
         convertible into hypothesis, and hypothesis is commonly
         used as another term for conjecture. the terms theory
         and theoretical are properly used in opposition to the
         terms practice and practical. in this sense, they were
         exclusively employed by the ancients; and in this
         sense, they are almost exclusively employed by the
         continental philosophers." --sir w. hamilton.
         1913 webster

   2. an exposition of the general or abstract principles of any
      science; as, the theory of music.
      1913 webster

   3. the science, as distinguished from the art; as, the theory
      and practice of medicine.
      1913 webster

   4. the philosophical explanation of phenomena, either
      physical or moral; as, lavoisier's theory of combustion;
      adam smith's theory of moral sentiments.
      1913 webster

   atomic theory, binary theory, etc. see under atomic,
      binary, etc.
      1913 webster

   syn: hypothesis, speculation.

   usage: theory, hypothesis. a theory is a scheme of the
          relations subsisting between the parts of a systematic
          whole; an hypothesis is a tentative conjecture
          respecting a cause of phenomena.
          1913 webster theosoph
see also:
theories theater atomic theory binary theory atomic binary 
theory hypothesis 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

atomic \atom"ic\, atomical \atom"ical\, a. cf. f. atomique.
   1. of or pertaining to atoms.
      1913 webster

   2. extremely minute; tiny.
      1913 webster

   atomic bomb, see atom bomb in the vocabulary.

   atomic philosophy, or doctrine of atoms, a system which,
      assuming that atoms are endued with gravity and motion,
      accounted thus for the origin and formation of all things.
      this philosophy was first broached by leucippus, was
      developed by democritus, and afterward improved by
      epicurus, and hence is sometimes denominated the epicurean
      philosophy.

   atomic theory, or the doctrine of definite proportions
      chem., teaches that chemical combinations take place
      between the supposed ultimate particles or atoms of
      bodies, in some simple ratio, as of one to one, two to
      three, or some other, always expressible in whole numbers.
      

   atomic weight chem., the weight of the atom of an element
      as compared with the weight of the atom of hydrogen, taken
      as a standard.
      1913 webster
see also:
atomic bomb atom bomb atomic philosophy doctrine of atoms atomic theory doctrine of definite proportions 
atomic weight 

[3] : WordNet (r) 2.0

atomic theory
     n 1: a theory of the structure of the atom
     2: chemistry any theory in which all matter is composed of
        tiny discrete finite indivisible indestructible particles;
        "the ancient greek philosophers democritus and epicurus
        held atomic theories of the universe" syn: atomism, atomist
        theory, atomistic theory ant: holism
see also:
atomism atomist theory atomistic theory holism 

Atomic Theory >> A Words
Atomic Theory, definition of term: Atomic Theory
atomic+theory_pag1.html

Atomic >> A Words
Atomic, definition of term: Atomic
atomic_pag1.html

Atomic Number >> A Words
Atomic Number, definition of term: Atomic Number
atomic+number_pag1.html

Atomic Volume >> A Words
Atomic Volume, definition of term: Atomic Volume
atomic+volume_pag1.html

Atomic Weight >> A Words
Atomic Weight, definition of term: Atomic Weight
atomic+weight_pag1.html

Atomic Clock >> A Words
Atomic Clock, definition of term: Atomic Clock
atomic+clock_pag1.html

Atomic Energy >> A Words
Atomic Energy, definition of term: Atomic Energy
atomic+energy_pag1.html

Atomic Bomb >> A Words
Atomic Bomb, definition of term: Atomic Bomb
atomic+bomb_pag1.html

Atomic Mass >> A Words
Atomic Mass, definition of term: Atomic Mass
atomic+mass_pag1.html

Glacier Theory >> G Words
Glacier Theory, definition of term: Glacier Theory
glacier+theory_pag1.html

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