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experiment (n.)

mid-14c., "action of observing or testing; an observation, test, or trial;" also "piece of evidence or empirical proof; feat of magic or sorcery," from Old French esperment "practical knowledge, cunning; enchantment, magic spell; trial, proof, example; lesson, sign, indication," from Latin experimentum "a trial, test, proof, experiment," noun of action from experiri "to try, test," from ex "out of" (see ex-) + peritus "experienced, tested," from PIE *per-yo-, suffixed form of root *per- (3) "to try, risk."

experiment (v.)

"make trial, operate (on something) so as to discover some unknown fact or to establish it when known," late 15c., from experiment (n.). Intransitive sense by 1787. Related: Experimented; experimenting.

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Definitions of experiment from WordNet
1
experiment (n.)
the act of conducting a controlled test or investigation;
Synonyms: experimentation
experiment (n.)
the testing of an idea;
it was an experiment in living
Synonyms: experimentation
experiment (n.)
a venture at something new or different;
as an experiment he decided to grow a beard
2
experiment (v.)
try something new, as in order to gain experience;
The composer experimented with a new style
Students experiment sexually
Synonyms: try out
From wordnet.princeton.edu