experiment
experiment (ĭk-spĕrʹə-mənt) noun
Abbr. exp., expt.
1. a. A test under controlled conditions that is made to demonstrate a known truth, examine the validity of a hypothesis, or determine the efficacy of something previously untried. b. The process of conducting such a test; experimentation.
2. An innovative act or procedure: "Democracy is only an experiment in government" (William Ralph Inge).
3. The result of experimentation: "We are not [nature's] only experiment" (R. Buckminster Fuller).
verb, intransitive
experimented, experimenting, experiments (-mĕnt)
1. To conduct an experiment.
2. To try something new, especially in order to gain experience: experiment with new methods of teaching.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin experīmentum, from experīrī, to try.]
experʹimenter noun