hypothesis

n 1: a proposal intended to explain certain facts or observations

2: a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would

explain certain facts or phenomena; "he proposed a fresh

theory of alkalis that later was accepted in chemical

practices" [syn: {possibility}, {theory}]

3: a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence

[syn: {guess}, {conjecture}, {supposition}, {surmise}, {speculation}]