Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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name
In Greek mythology, the primordial state of disorder that exists before the creation of the world, or the first being or deity to exist.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Greek
Topics: human-sciences, mysticism, mythology, philosophy, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
name
A planetoid and cubewano orbiting in the Kuiper belt.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: astronomy, natural-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: 19521 Chaos
Antonyms: none provided
name
In the Warhammer franchise, a demonic antagonist that sends demons, monsters, warriors, and beasts to wage war on the games' setting.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: fantasy, literature, media, publishing, science-fiction
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The unordered state of matter in classical accounts of cosmogony.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable, usually
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Any state of disorder; a confused or amorphous mixture or conglomeration.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable, usually
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A behaviour of iterative non-linear systems in which arbitrarily small variations in initial conditions become magnified over time.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable, usually
Topics: mathematics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
One of the two metaphysical forces of the world in some fantasy settings, as opposed to law.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable, usually
Topics: fantasy
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A vast chasm or abyss.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, uncountable, usually
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A given medium; a space in which something exists or lives; an environment.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, rare, uncountable, usually
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Initialism of congenital high airway obstruction syndrome.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, initialism, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Initialism of can't have anyone over syndrome.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, initialism, slang, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
(physics) a dynamical system that is extremely sensitive to its initial conditions
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: dynamical system
noun
(Greek mythology) the most ancient of gods; the personification of the infinity of space preceding creation of the universe
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: Greek deity
noun
the formless and disordered state of matter before the creation of the cosmos
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: physical phenomenon
noun
a state of extreme confusion and disorder
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: pandemonium, bedlam, topsy-turvydom, topsy-turvyness
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: confusion
Narrower terms: balagan
History
From Latin chaos (“chaos”), from Ancient Greek χάος (kháos).
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ǵheh2-der. Ancient Greek χαῦνος (khaûnos) Ancient Greek χάος (kháos)lbor. English chaos Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek χάος (kháos, “vast chasm, void”). Doublet of gas, which was borrowed through Dutch. Displaced native Old English dwolma. In Early Modern English, used in the sense of the original Greek word. In the meaning “primordial matter” from the 16th century. Figurative usage in the sense “confusion, disorder” from the 17th century. The technical sense in mathematics and science dates from the 1960s.
Across languages
134 source translations are retained for this English entry.
