theory of relativity
12
6.7
- noun
- /ˈθiəri əv rɪˈlætɪvɪti/
- Specialized
:
teoría de la relatividad
- Albert Einstein revolutionized physics with his theory of relativity, which changed how we understand space and time.
- Einstein's theory of relativity
- general theory of relativity
- special theory of relativity
And so space-time is essential for Einstein's theory of relativity, both the special theory and the general theory of relativity.
- And so space-time is essential for Einstein's theory of relativity, both the special theory and the general theory of relativity.
- Einstein didn't even know it, but he first put forth this possibility way back when he first put forth the general theory of relativity.
- And Einstein formalized that statement in his theories of relativity.
- This paper that I wrote myself about the theory of relativity is very good because it's Einsteiny.
- One of the books was this, the General Theory of relativity by Einstein.
Examples
-
Albert Einstein first predicted the existence of gravitational waves in his general theory of relativity.
Academic text (2001) -
Albert Einstein revolutionized physics and our understanding of the universe through his theory of relativity.
Academic text (2017) -
l was trying to explain the theory of relativity.
-
Okay, let me give you the theory of relativity.
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This flight will put Einstein's theory of relativity to the test.
-
That's the theory of relativity.
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According to the special theory of relativity, clocks in motion beat more slowly than clocks at rest.
Academic text (1996) -
The general theory of relativity has held up startlingly well against all later tests.
Academic text (1991) -
In 1905, Einstein changed forever our views of space and time by publishing his special theory of relativity.
Academic text (1991) -
We hardly notice anymore that our entire understanding of the cosmos rests on Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity.
Academic text (2003)
Synonyms
43
8.1
A theory in physics that space and time change depending on how you move
3
6.8
A scientific idea that says space and time change depending on speed and gravity
1
6.5
A scientific idea by Einstein that space and time depend on how fast something moves
How Accepted
- Specialized
206
5.0
- Specialized
12
6.7
∞
3.2
138
6.1
817
2.9
288
4.8
Surface Forms
Morphology
theory + of + relativity
The phrase is a straightforward noun phrase built from 'theory' (a set of ideas) + 'of' (genitive/linking preposition) + 'relativity' (the concept that space and time are relative). A B1 learner who knows these constituents can directly infer that it names the scientific theory about relativity, and the same compositional pattern exists across many languages, so it is immediately comprehensible.
Etymology
The name theory of relativity comes from the simple idea that measurements like time and distance change with your situation: imagine one person on a fast train and another on the platform watching the same clock and seeing different times. So it means 'a scientific idea that time and space depend on the person watching', which is why the word relativity is used.