chasm

[kaz-uhm]

noun

1. a yawning fissure or deep cleft in the earth's surface; gorge.

2. a breach or wide fissure in a wall or other structure.

3. a marked interruption of continuity; gap.

   a chasm in time.

4. a sundering breach in relations, as a divergence of opinions, beliefs, etc., between persons or groups.

chasm

/ ˈkæzəm, ˈkæzməl /

noun

1. a deep cleft in the ground; abyss

2. a break in continuity; gap

3. a wide difference in interests, feelings, etc

Other Word Forms

• chasmal adjective
• chasmic adjective
• chasmed adjective
• chasmy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chasm¹

1590–1600; apocopated variant of chasma < Latin < Greek, equivalent to cha- (root of chaínein to gape; yawn ) + -( a ) sma resultative suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of chasm¹

C17: from Latin chasma, from Greek khasma; related to Greek khainein to gape

Example Sentences

I just flail for her hand, only barely brushing it before we fall into the chasm.

Read more on Literature

Playing her sister, Ms. Lilleaas has a less showy part with a broader range, and her Agnes turns out to be a bridge across the family chasm in an especially powerful late scene.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

She is merely a spectator, thinking kernels of thoughts that will be dashed into the mind’s chasm as her brain grows and develops.

Read more on Salon

The Dodgers’ largess inspired widespread debate and consternation all season long, raising concern that the wealth gap in a sport without a salary cap had become a chasm.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

There’s a chasm forming in the AFC West between the good teams and bad.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cleavage 
• crater 
• crevasse 
• fissure 
• gorge 
• ravine 
• rift 
• schism 
• void