[Dimensio]

n all the science courses I took in college, the definition of theory that I was presented with was the one that anyone can find in Merriam-Webster, or some such other reliable, reputable, widely acknowledged and accepted source.

You mean "a plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle or body of principles offered to explain natural phenomena"?

My profs taught that any theory well enough established as to be accepted as fact, was genreally given the status of *law*.

Where did these "profs" teach? A "law" in science is a generalization of regularly occuring patterns observed in the universe. A "theory" in science is an explanation for the cause of observed events in the universe based upon a collection of data points. Both are generally considered "true", but they serve different purposes. A scientific explanation does not ever become "law". The "law" of gravity is not an explanation, it's a formula for calculating resultant force from two attracting bodies. The explanation for the cause of this force is a "theory".

[Virginia-American]

I gave a few examples of laws and theories a few days ago. Post 139

[metmom]

These "profs" were PhD holding professors in the SUNY system.