1 [C] an idea or set of ideas that tries to explain sth 理论;学说:
the theory about how life on earth began关于地球上生命起源的理论
2 [U] the general idea or principles of a particular subject 理论;原理:
political theory政治理论the theory and practice of language teaching语言教学的理论与实践
3 [C] an opinion or a belief that has not been shown to be true 看法;推测;揣度
in theory as a general idea which may not be true in reality 理论上:
Your plan sounds fine in theory, but I don't know if it'll work in practice.你的计划理论上不错,但我不知道实际上是否可行。
theory/ˋθiərI; ˈθIəri/n plural theories 1 [C] an idea that tries to explain something [→ theoretical] 学说﹔理论: +of Darwin's theory of evolution 达尔文的进化论+about different theories about how the brain works 关于大脑如何运作的各种学说One theory is that he was killed by members of a rival gang. 一种观点认为他是被敌对团伙的成员杀死的。2 in theory something that is true in theory should be true, but may not actually be true 理论上﹐从理论上来说〔实际上未必如此〕: In theory, I don’t work on Saturdays. 理论上来讲﹐我星期六不工作。3 [U] the general principles of a subject〔某一学科的〕理论﹔原理: studying economic theory 学习经济学理论