experiment Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the act of conducting a controlled test or investigation
    experimentation.
  2. noun the testing of an idea
    experimentation.
    • it was an experiment in living
    • not all experimentation is done in laboratories
  3. noun a venture at something new or different
    • as an experiment he decided to grow a beard
  4. verb to conduct a test or investigation
    • We are experimenting with the new drug in order to fight this disease
  5. verb try something new, as in order to gain experience
    try out.
    • Students experiment sexually
    • The composer experimented with a new style

WordNet

Ex*per"i*ment noun
Etymology
L. experimentum, fr. experiri to try: cf. OF. esperiment, experiment. See Experience.
Definitions
  1. Atrial or special observation, made to confirm or disprove something doubtful; esp., one under conditions determined by the experimenter; an act or operation undertaken in order to discover some unknown principle or effect, or to test, establish, or illustrate some suggest or known truth; practical test; poof.
    A political experiment can not be made in a laboratory, not determinant in a few hours. J. Adams.
  2. Experience. Obs.
    Adam, by sad experiment I know How little weight my words with thee can find. Milton.
Ex*per"i*ment transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Experimented; present participle & verbal noun Experinenting
Definitions
  1. To make experiment; to operate by test or trial; -- often with on, upon, or in, referring to the subject of an experiment; with, referring to the instrument; and by, referring to the means; as, to experiment upon electricity; he experimented in plowing with ponies, or by steam power.
Ex*per"i*ment transitive verb
Definitions
  1. , To try; to know, perceive, or prove, by trial experience. Obs. Sir T. Herbert.

Webster 1913