[sci.ence] n [ME, fr. MF, fr. L scientia, fr. scient-, sciens having knowledge, fr. prp. of scire to know; prob. akin to Skt chyati he cuts off, L scindere to split--more at shed] (14c) 1: the state of knowing: knowledge as distinguished from ignorance or misunderstanding
2. a: a department of systematized knowledge as an object of study "the ~ of theology" b: something (as a sport or technique) that may be studied or learned like systematized knowledge "have it down to a ~" 3 a: knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or t he operation of general laws esp. as obtained and tested through scientific method b: such knowledge or such a system of knowledge concerned with the physical world and its phenomena: natural science
4: a system or method reconciling practical ends with scientific laws "culinary ~"
5. cap: christian science