experiment

n.

1. An operation to establish a principle or a truth

   trial, test, analysis, essay, examination, clinical trial, investigation, experimentation, inspection, search, organized observation, research, scrutiny, trial and error, speculation, check, proof, demonstration, verification, sifting, dissection, operation, exercise, probe.

2. A trial arrangement

   undertaking, trial, probation, probation trial, agreement, attempt, pilot project, pilot, testing program, dry run, rehearsal, practice, venture, enterprise, measure, try, tryout; see also sense 1.

trial implies the trying of a person or thing in order to establish worth in actual performance hired on trial; experiment implies a showing by trial whether a thing will be effective the honor system was instituted as an experiment and, in addition, is used of any action or process undertaken to discover something not yet known or to demonstrate something known experiments in nuclear physics; test implies a putting of a thing to decisive proof by thorough examination or trial under controlled conditions and with fixed standards in mind a test of a new jet plane

experiment

v.

1. To investigate scientifically

   analyze, investigate, test, try, probe, search, venture, explore, diagnose, prove, conduct an experiment, research, verify, speculate, study, examine, scrutinize, weigh, assay, sample, dissect, make inquiry, follow a clue, put to the test, play around with*, fool with*, cut and try*.

2. To put on trial

   test, rehearse, try out, test out, try tentatively, sample, put on one's honor, hold under probation, put through one's paces, try by ordeal, give an opportunity, practice upon, have a go*.