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{
"term": "theory",
"partOfSpeech": "noun",
"academic": true,
"ox3000": true,
"cefr": "b1",
"definitions": [
{
"senseNumber": 1,
"definition": "a formal set of ideas that is intended to explain why something happens or exists",
"sensetop": "theory of somethingtheory about somethingtheory on somethingtheory behind somethingaccording to a theory",
"cefr": "b1",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "the theory of evolution/relativity",
"contextForm": "theory of something"
},
{
"text": "scientific/economic theory"
},
{
"text": "The theories were tested on a sample of the population."
},
{
"text": "He **developed a** new **theory** about the cause of stomach ulcers.",
"contextForm": "theory about something"
},
{
"text": "theories on human behaviour",
"contextForm": "theory on something"
},
{
"text": "She has written a book explaining the theory behind her art.",
"contextForm": "theory behind something"
},
{
"text": "According to the theory of relativity, nothing can travel faster than light.",
"contextForm": "according to a theory"
},
{
"text": "The debate is centred around two conflicting theories."
},
{
"text": "Current feminist theory consists of several different trends."
},
{
"text": "His comments are just abstract theory and show little understanding of the realities of the situation."
},
{
"text": "the dominant strand of postmodern theory"
},
{
"text": "the existence of a grand unified theory that determines everything in the universe"
},
{
"text": "Further experiments seemed to confirm this theory."
},
{
"text": "He wrote a number of books on political theory."
},
{
"text": "It is a theory that cannot be proved or disproved."
},
{
"text": "Marx's theories of history raise one or two major questions."
},
{
"text": "The theory was first advanced back in the 16th century."
},
{
"text": "This is all theory so far…you'll need to back it up with facts."
}
],
"topics": ["Scientific research"],
"collocations": {
"adjective": ["complete", "unified", "general"],
"… of theories": ["set"],
"verb + theory": ["have", "hold", "advance"],
"theory + verb": [
"hold something",
"suggest something",
"explain something"
],
"preposition": ["in theory", "theory about"],
"phrases": ["put (the) theory into practice", "theory and practice"]
}
},
{
"senseNumber": 2,
"definition": "the principles on which a particular subject is based",
"cefr": "b1",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "the **theory and practice** of language teaching"
},
{
"text": "This is your chance to **put theory into practice **."
},
{
"text": "literary theory"
}
],
"collocations": {
"adjective": ["complete", "unified", "general"],
"… of theories": ["set"],
"verb + theory": ["have", "hold", "advance"],
"theory + verb": [
"hold something",
"suggest something",
"explain something"
],
"preposition": ["in theory", "theory about"],
"phrases": ["put (the) theory into practice", "theory and practice"]
}
},
{
"senseNumber": 3,
"definition": "an opinion or idea that somebody believes is true but that is not proved",
"sensetop": "theory about somethingtheory on somethingtheory that…",
"cefr": "b1",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "**Theories abound** *(= people have lots of different ideas)* about what happened.",
"contextForm": "theory about something"
},
{
"text": "Here's my theory on how the story's going to end.",
"contextForm": "theory on something"
},
{
"text": "I don't **subscribe to the theory** that all Hollywood audiences want a happy ending.",
"contextForm": "theory that…"
},
{
"text": "Police are working on the theory that the murderer was known to the family."
},
{
"text": "I have this theory that most people prefer being at work to being at home."
},
{
"text": "He has a theory about why dogs walk in circles before going to sleep."
},
{
"text": "If the theory is correct, any child can be taught to be a musical genius."
},
{
"text": "a conspiracy theory about the princess's death"
},
{
"text": "One of her pet theories is that people who restrict their calorie intake live longer."
},
{
"text": "She doesn't agree with the theory that rich people work harder than poor people."
}
],
"topics": ["Opinion and argument"],
"collocations": {
"adjective": ["complete", "unified", "general"],
"… of theories": ["set"],
"verb + theory": ["have", "hold", "advance"],
"theory + verb": [
"hold something",
"suggest something",
"explain something"
],
"preposition": ["in theory", "theory about"],
"phrases": ["put (the) theory into practice", "theory and practice"]
}
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "used to say that a particular statement is supposed to be true but may in fact be wrong",
"examples": [
{
"text": "In theory, these machines should last for ten years or more."
},
{
"text": "That sounds fine in theory, but have you really thought it through?"
},
{
"text": "‘Aren’t you supposed to be retired?’ ‘Yes, in theory.’"
},
{
"text": "In theory, all children get an equal chance at school."
}
]
}
],
"pronunciations": {
"uk": [
{
"pronunciation": "/ˈθɪəri/",
"audio": "th/theory/theory__gb_3.mp3"
}
],
"us": [
{
"pronunciation": "/ˈθiːəri//ˈθɪri/",
"audio": "th/theory/theory__us_2_rr.mp3"
}
]
},
"wordOrigin": "late 16th cent. (denoting a mental scheme of something to be done): via late Latin from Greek theōria ‘contemplation, speculation’, from theōros ‘spectator’."
}