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experiment

n.
US //ɪkˈspɛɹəmənt// UK //ɛkspˈɛɹɪmənt// ex·per·i·ment
  1. 1 scientific test (n.)
    A2 Elementary Science

    a scientific test done to find out how something works or if an idea is true.

    a procedure carried out under controlled conditions to discover an unknown effect, test a hypothesis, or illustrate a known law.

    Example

    In science class, we did an experiment to see how plants grow in the dark.

    Example

    The researchers conducted a double-blind experiment to determine whether the new medication was more effective than the existing treatment.

    Usage

    Commonly used with the verbs 'do', 'conduct', 'perform', or 'carry out'.
    Pitfall
    The scientist made an experiment.
    The scientist did an experiment.

    In English, you 'do', 'conduct', or 'carry out' an experiment; you do not 'make' one.

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-.

Word family

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