Basic Details
Word: Conjecture
Part of Speech: Noun (also used as a verb)
Meaning: An idea or opinion that is based on incomplete information; a guess.
Synonyms: Guess, hypothesis, supposition
Antonyms: Fact, certainty
Idioms and Phrases
- Jump to conclusions: To make a decision or judgment without all the facts. Example: "He jumped to conclusions before hearing the full story, leading to a false conjecture."
- Put forward a conjecture: To suggest an idea or theory for consideration. Example: "During the class discussion, she put forward a conjecture about why the experiment did not work."
Usage Examples
Example 1: His conjecture about the missing puzzle piece was incorrect as it turned out to be in his pocket all along.
Example 2: The scientist made a conjecture based on her initial findings, which later contributed to her research.
Example 3: Many conjectures about the ancient ruins exist, sparking both curiosity and debate among historians.
Fun Fact
The word "conjecture" comes from the Latin word "conjectura," which means "to throw together" or "to guess." This reflects the idea of bringing together existing pieces of information to propose a theory.
Famous Quote
"The essence of science is that it is a self-correcting process which can improve on conjectures as new data becomes available." - Peter W. Atkins
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "conjecture" mean?
a) A scientific discovery
b) An idea based on incomplete information
c) A proven fact
d) A strong argument
Answer: b) An idea based on incomplete information
2. Which of these is a synonym of "conjecture"?
a) Certainty
b) Supposition
c) Evidence
d) Proof
Answer: b) Supposition
3. What is the antonym of "conjecture"?
a) Guess
b) Hypothesis
c) Fact
d) Thought
Answer: c) Fact
4. Which sentence uses "conjecture" correctly?
a) His conjecture was confirmed by the numerous experiments that followed.
b) He conjectured the entire library.
c) The conjecture raced down the street.
d) She conjectured that the dog would fetch the ball faster than the cat.
Answer: a) His conjecture was confirmed by the numerous experiments that followed.
5. What does it mean to "put forward a conjecture"?
a) To throw out an idea without thinking
b) To suggest an idea for consideration
c) To ignore all facts
d) To argue loudly
Answer: b) To suggest an idea for consideration
