Roget's Thesaurus

#463. Experiment

Nouns

experiment; essay etc. (attempt) 675; analysis etc. (investigation) 461; screen; trial, tentative method. verification, probation, experimentum crucis [Lat.], proof, (demonstration) 478; criterion, diagnostic, test, probe, crucial test, acid test, litmus test. crucible, reagent, check, touchstone, pix; assay, ordeal; ring; litmus paper, curcuma paper, turmeric paper; test tube; analytical instruments etc. 633. empiricism, rule of thumb. feeler; trial balloon, pilot balloon, messenger balloon; pilot engine; scout; straw to show the wind. speculation, random shot, leap in the dark. analyzer, analyst, assayist; adventurer; experimenter, experimentist, experimentalist; scientist, engineer, technician. subject, experimentee, guinea pig, experimental animal. [experimental method] protocol, experimental method, blind experiment, double-blind experiment, controlled experiment. poll, survey, opinion poll. epidemiological survey [Med.], retrospective analysis, retrospective survey, prospective survey, prospective analysis; statistical analysis. literature search, library research. tryout, audition. [results of experiment] discovery etc. 480; measurement etc. 466; evidence etc. 467. [reasoning about an experiment] deduction, induction, abduction.

Verbs

experiment; essay etc. (endeavor) 675; try, try out, assay; make an experiment, make a trial of; give a trial to; put on trial, subject to trial; experiment upon; rehearse; put to the test, bring to the test, submit to the test, submit to the proof; prove, verify, test, touch, practice upon, try one's strength; road-test, test drive, take for a spin; test fly. grope; feel one's way, grope for one's way; fumble, put out a feeler, throw out a feeler; send up a trial balloon, send up a pilot balloon; see how the land lies, get the lay of the land, test the waters, feel out, sound out, take the pulse, see, check, check out [Coll.], see how the wind blows; consult the barometer; feel the pulse; fish for, bob for; cast for, beat about for; angle, trawl, cast one's net, beat the bushes. try one's fortune etc. (adventure) 675; explore etc. (inquire) 461.

Adjectives

experimental, empirical. probative, probatory, probationary, provisional; analytic, docimastic; tentative; unverified, unproven, speculative, untested.

Adverbs

on trial, under examination, on probation, under probation, on one's trial, on approval.

Phrases

check it out, give it a try, see how it goes; Run it up the flagpole and see who salutes.