quantum theory The theory that it is impossible to measure both energy and time (or position and momentum) completely accurately at the same time.

synonym: indeterminacy principle.

Roget 621: chance etc. 156; lot, fate etc. (necessity) 601; luck; good luck etc. (good) 618; mascot.    speculation, venture, stake, game of chance; mere shot, random shot; blind bargain, leap in the dark; pig in a poke etc. (uncertainty) 475; fluke, potluck; faro bank; flyer [Slang]; limit.    uncertainty; uncertainty principle, Heisenberg's uncertainty principle.    drawing lots; sortilegy^†, sortition^†; sortes^†, sortes Virgilianae^†; rouge et noir [Fr.], hazard, ante, chuck-a-luck, crack-loo [U.S.], craps, faro, roulette, pitch and toss, chuck, farthing, cup tossing, heads or tails cross and pile, poker-dice; wager; bet, betting; gambling; the turf.    gaming house, gambling house, betting house; bucket shop; gambling joint; totalizator, totalizer; hell; betting ring; dice, dice box.    [person who takes chances] gambler, gamester; man of the turf; adventurer; dicer^†.    ... show more