a tentative theory about the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena; "a scientific hypothesis that survives experimental testing becomes a scientific theory"; "he proposed a fresh theory of alkalis that later was accepted in chemical practices"
a proposal intended to explain certain facts or observations
forming an image by the action of light on a specially coated charged plate; the latent image is developed with powders that adhere only to electrically charged areas; "edge enhancement is intrinsic in xerography"
the idea of something that is perfect; something that one hopes to attain
model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal
constituting or existing only in the form of an idea or mental image or conception; "a poem or essay may be typical of its period in idea or ideal content"
conforming to an ultimate standard of perfection or excellence; embodying an ideal
of or relating to the philosophical doctrine of the reality of ideas
the spatial property of the position from which something is observed
a mental position from which things are viewed; "we should consider this problem from the viewpoint of the Russians"; "teaching history gave him a special point of view toward current events"