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empirical - 6 dictionary results

em⋅pir⋅i⋅cal

   [em-pir-i-kuhl]
–adjective
1. derived from or guided by experience or experiment.
2. depending upon experience or observation alone, without using scientific method or theory, esp. as in medicine.
3. provable or verifiable by experience or experiment.
Origin:
1560–70; empiric + -al 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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em·pir·i·cal     (ěm-pîr'ĭ-kəl)  Pronunciation Key 
adj.  
    1. Relying on or derived from observation or experiment: empirical results that supported the hypothesis.
    2. Verifiable or provable by means of observation or experiment: empirical laws.
  2. Guided by practical experience and not theory, especially in medicine.
em·pir'i·cal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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empirical 
1569, from L. empiricus, from Gk. empeirikos "experienced," from empeiria "experience," from empeiros "skilled," from en- "in" + peira "trial, experiment." Originally a school of ancient physicians who based their practice on experience rather than theory.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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empirical

adjective
1. derived from experiment and observation rather than theory; "an empirical basis for an ethical theory"; "empirical laws"; "empirical data"; "an empirical treatment of a disease about which little is known" [ant: theoretic] 
2. relying on medical quackery; "empiric treatment" [syn: empiric] 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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empirical   (ěm-pîr'ĭ-kəl)  Pronunciation Key 
Relying on or derived from observation or experiment.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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empirical em·pir·i·cal (ěm-pēr'ĭ-kəl)
adj.

  1. Relying on or derived from observation or experiment.
  2. Verifiable or provable by means of observation or experiment.
  3. Of or being a philosophy of medicine emphasizing practical experience and observation over scientific theory.
em·pir'i·cal·ly adv.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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