Dictionary

thesis

noun the·sis \ˈthē-səs, British especially for 1 ˈthe-sis\

: a long piece of writing on a particular subject that is done to earn a degree at a university

: a statement that someone wants to discuss or prove

plural the·ses \ˈthē-ˌsēz\

Full Definition of THESIS

1
a (1) :  the unstressed part of a poetic foot especially in accentual verse (2) :  the longer part of a poetic foot especially in quantitative verse
b :  the accented part of a musical measure :  downbeat — compare arsis
2
a :  a position or proposition that a person (as a candidate for scholastic honors) advances and offers to maintain by argument
b :  a proposition to be proved or one advanced without proof :  hypothesis
3
:  the first and least adequate stage of dialectic — compare synthesis
4
:  a dissertation embodying results of original research and especially substantiating a specific view; especially :  one written by a candidate for an academic degree
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Origin of THESIS

in sense 1, Middle English, lowering of the voice, from Late Latin & Greek; Late Latin, from Greek, downbeat, more important part of a foot, literally, act of laying down; in other senses, Latin, from Greek, literally, act of laying down, from tithenai to put, lay down — more at do
First Known Use: 14th century

Other Education Terms

baccalaureate, colloquium, corequisite, dissertation, monograph, pedant, practicum, survey course

Rhymes with THESIS

THESIS Defined for Kids

thesis

noun the·sis \ˈthē-səs\
plural the·ses \-ˌsēz\

Definition of THESIS for Kids

1
:  a statement that a person wants to discuss or prove
2
:  an essay presenting results of original research

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