Causes of a ruptured, or perforated, eardrum may include: 1  Middle ear infection (otitis media). 2  A middle ear infection often results in the accumulation of fluids in your middle ear. 3  Pressure from these fluids can cause the eardrum to rupture.auses of a ruptured, or perforated, eardrum may include: 1  Middle ear infection (otitis media). 2  A middle ear infection often results in the accumulation of fluids in your middle ear. 3  Pressure from these fluids can cause the eardrum to rupture.
Wiktionary(3.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition: 1  speculation(Noun) The process of thinking or meditating on a subject. 2  speculation(Noun) A judgment or conclusion reached by speculating. 3  speculation(Noun) An investment involving higher than normal risk in order to obtain a higher than normal return.
A hypothesis is essentially an idea- based on what you know and have observed, what you think is going on. A theory is a hypothesis that has been backed up by evidence and experimentation. Unfortunately, in layman's terms, a theory is often thought to mean a guess, which is not true. When someone talks about a theory outside a scientific context, they usually mean a hypothesis.