theoretical

Bridgezipf 4.01

Pronunciation

/ˌθɪərɪˈɛtɪkəl/(thee-uh-RET-ih-kul)

Part of speech

adjectiveneutral

Chinese

理论上的；理论性的（存在于理论中，而非实际应用或实验中）

Definition

Concerned with or based on theory rather than practical application or experience.

Word family

  • theoretically/ˌθɪərɪˈɛtɪkəli/(adv)理论上
  • theorist/ˈθɪərɪst/(n)理论家

Collocations

  • theoretical framework
  • theoretical model
  • purely theoretical
  • theoretical knowledge
  • theoretical physics

Examples

  1. 1.The plan looks good in theory, but there's a gap between the theoretical model and what will actually happen in practice. (abstract vs real)
  2. 2.Theoretical physics deals with concepts that may be impossible to test experimentally. (science)

Synonyms

  • abstract/ˈæbstrækt/— existing as a concept, not concretely
  • hypothetical/ˌhaɪpəˈθɛtɪkəl/— based on a hypothesis; not proven
  • academic/ˌækəˈdɛmɪk/— scholarly; sometimes implying impractical

Etymology

from Greek "theoretikos" = of or for contemplation, from "theoria" = looking at, speculation