WordofTheDay.US

experiment

/ɪkˈspɛɹ.ɪ.mənt/ noun

In Latin: experīmentum, perīculum Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about experiment at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. The act of conducting a controlled test or investigation.
  2. The testing of an idea.
    it was an experiment in living
  3. A venture at something new or different.
    as an experiment he decided to grow a beard

verb

  1. To conduct a test or investigation.
    We are experimenting with the new drug in order to fight this disease
  2. Try something new, as in order to gain experience.
    Students experiment sexually

Origin

From Middle English experiment, from Old French esperiment (French expérience), from Latin experimentum (“experience, attempt, experiment”), from experior (“to experience, to attempt”), itself from ex + *perior, in turn from Proto-Indo-European *per-.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)