Noun
abstract thought - thinking that is coherent and logical
logical thinking, reasoning
cerebration, intellection, mentation, thinking, thought process, thought - the process of using your mind to consider something carefully; "thinking always made him frown"; "she paused for thought"
analytic thinking, analysis - the abstract separation of a whole into its constituent parts in order to study the parts and their relations
line of reasoning, logical argument, argumentation, argument, line - a course of reasoning aimed at demonstrating a truth or falsehood; the methodical process of logical reasoning; "I can't follow your line of reasoning"
conjecture - reasoning that involves the formation of conclusions from incomplete evidence
deductive reasoning, synthesis, deduction - reasoning from the general to the particular (or from cause to effect)
illation, inference - the reasoning involved in drawing a conclusion or making a logical judgment on the basis of circumstantial evidence and prior conclusions rather than on the basis of direct observation
prediction, anticipation, prevision - the act of predicting (as by reasoning about the future)
ratiocination - logical and methodical reasoning
reasoning backward, regress - the reasoning involved when you assume the conclusion is true and reason backward to the evidence
synthetic thinking, synthesis - the combination of ideas into a complex whole