thesis

[ thee-sis ]
/ ˈθi sɪs /

noun, plural the·ses [thee-seez] /ˈθi siz/.

a proposition stated or put forward for consideration, especially one to be discussed and proved or to be maintained against objections: He vigorously defended his thesis on the causes of war.
a subject for a composition or essay.
a dissertation on a particular subject in which one has done original research, as one presented by a candidate for a diploma or degree.
Music. the downward stroke in conducting; downbeat. Compare arsis(def 1).
Prosody.
  1. a part of a metrical foot that does not bear the ictus or stress.
  2. (less commonly) the part of a metrical foot that bears the ictus.Compare arsis(def 2).
Philosophy. See under Hegelian dialectic.

Origin of thesis

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin < Greek thésis a setting down, something set down, equivalent to the- (stem of tithénai to put, set down) + -sis -sis

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH thesis

antithesis synthesis thesis dissertation thesis

Definition for thesis (2 of 2)

Hegelian dialectic

noun

an interpretive method, originally used to relate specific entities or events to the absolute idea, in which some assertible proposition (thesis) is necessarily opposed by an equally assertible and apparently contradictory proposition (antithesis), the mutual contradiction being reconciled on a higher level of truth by a third proposition (synthesis).

Example sentences from the Web for thesis

British Dictionary definitions for thesis (1 of 2)

thesis
/ (ˈθiːsɪs) /

noun plural -ses (-siːz)

Word Origin for thesis

C16: via Late Latin from Greek: a placing, from tithenai to place

British Dictionary definitions for thesis (2 of 2)

Hegelian dialectic
/ (hɪˈɡeɪlɪan, heɪˈɡiː-) /

noun

philosophy an interpretive method in which the contradiction between a proposition (thesis) and its antithesis is resolved at a higher level of truth (synthesis)

Cultural definitions for thesis

thesis

The central idea in a piece of writing, sometimes contained in a topic sentence.