M-theory

5 9.9

An idea in physics that unites all string theories in a space with eleven dimensions

noun
/ɛm ˈθɪəri/

Specialized

: teoría M

Researchers believe M-theory could explain various fundamental forces in the universe by incorporating 11 dimensions.

Examples

Then tomorrow after lunch, you can give a brief presentation on M-theory.

Captain Fantastic (2016)
M-theory is a theoretical framework in physics that unifies all consistent versions of M-theory within an eleven-dimensional universe.
M-theory unifies all consistent versions of superstring theory.

Kill Switch (2017)
In M-theory, each of the five string theories is seen as a special case of this unified framework.

Surface Forms

M-theory singular

M-theories plural

Morphology

M-theory = theory (opaque) = M + theory

The element 'M' is an initialism/label without an obvious meaning for most learners, so knowing 'theory' alone does not let learners infer the full sense.

Etymology

M-theory was named with an open letter M that different people said could mean 'membrane', 'mystery', or 'mother'. A helpful way to remember M-theory is to think of M as 'mother' or 'mystery', because the theory tries to bring many string theories together into one big idea about the universe.