TOP

Definition of experiment verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

experiment

verb
 
/ɪkˈsperɪment/
 
/ɪkˈsperɪment/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they experiment
 
/ɪkˈsperɪment/
 
/ɪkˈsperɪment/
he / she / it experiments
 
/ɪkˈsperɪments/
 
/ɪkˈsperɪments/
past simple experimented
 
/ɪkˈsperɪmentɪd/
 
/ɪkˈsperɪmentɪd/
past participle experimented
 
/ɪkˈsperɪmentɪd/
 
/ɪkˈsperɪmentɪd/
-ing form experimenting
 
/ɪkˈsperɪmentɪŋ/
 
/ɪkˈsperɪmentɪŋ/
jump to other results
  1. [intransitive] to do a scientific experiment or experiments
    • After experimenting at Columbia University, he realized that fission was the key to releasing nuclear energy.
    • experiment on somebody/something Some people feel that experimenting on animals is wrong.
    • They experimented successfully on the plants to discover disease-resistant varieties.
    • experiment with something The country had secretly experimented with biological weapons for years.
    Topics Scientific researchb1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • successfully
    • freely
    • sexually
    verb + experiment
    • begin to
    • continue to
    preposition
    • on
    • with
    See full entry
  2. [intransitive] to try or test new ideas, methods, etc. to find out what effect they have
    • I experimented until I got the recipe just right.
    • experiment with something She had experimented with drugs when she was at college.
    • He wanted to experiment more with different textures in his paintings.
    Extra Examples
    • The students freely experimented with paints.
    • We have experimented with various different designs of kite.
    • The equipment encourages the children to experiment in different ways.
    • He is experimenting on a variety of themes, ranging from horror to action films.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • successfully
    • freely
    • sexually
    verb + experiment
    • begin to
    • continue to
    preposition
    • on
    • with
    See full entry
  3. Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French, or from Latin experimentum, from experiri ‘try’. Compare with experience and expert.
See experiment in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee experiment in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
sunflower
noun
 
 
From the Topic
Plants and trees
B2
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day