sci ‧ ence S1 W1 /ˈsaɪəns/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ science , ↑ scientist ; adverb : ↑ scientifically ; adjective : ↑ scientific ≠ ↑ unscientific ]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: Latin scientia 'knowledge' , from scire 'to know' ]
1 . [uncountable] knowledge about the world, especially based on examining, testing, and proving facts:
Many leading scientists do not consider that science can give absolutely reliable knowledge.
the founder of modern science, Isaac Newton
developments in science and technology
2 . [uncountable] the study of science:
What did you do in science class today?
3 . [countable] a particular part of science, for example ↑ biology , ↑ chemistry , or ↑ physics :
the physical sciences
4 . something is not an exact science used to say that something involves a lot of guessing and there is not just one right way to do it:
Advertising is not an exact science – you’re always taking a risk.
⇨ ↑ domestic science , ↑ information science , ↑ natural science , ↑ physical science , ↑ social science , ⇨ blind somebody with science at ↑ blind 2 (4), ⇨ something is not rocket science at ↑ rocket science