chaos

American  

[key-os] / ˈkeɪ ɒs /

noun

1. a state of utter confusion or disorder; a total lack of organization or order.

   Synonyms:

   tumult, turmoil, jumble, disarray

   Antonyms:

   calm, peace, order

2. any confused, disorderly mass.

   a chaos of meaningless phrases.

3. the infinity of space or formless matter supposed to have preceded the existence of the ordered universe.

4. (initial capital letter) the personification of this in any of several ancient Greek myths.

5. Obsolete. a chasm or abyss.

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chaos British  

/ ˈkeɪɒs, keɪˈɒtɪk /

noun

1. complete disorder; utter confusion

2. (usually capital) the disordered formless matter supposed to have existed before the ordered universe

3. an obsolete word for abyss

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chaos Scientific  

/ kā′ŏs′ /

1. The behavior of systems that follow deterministic laws but appear random and unpredictable. Chaotic systems very are sensitive to initial conditions; small changes in those conditions can lead to quite different outcomes. One example of chaotic behavior is the flow of air in conditions of turbulence.

2. See more at fractal

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chaos Cultural  

1. A new branch of science that deals with systems whose evolution depends very sensitively upon the initial conditions. Turbulent flows of fluids (such as white water in a river) and the prediction of the weather are two areas where chaos theory has been applied with some success.

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Other Word Forms

• chaotic adjective
• chaotically adverb

Etymology

Origin of chaos

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin, Greek cháos; akin to chasm, yawn, gape

Example Sentences

Andrew thought he would be celebrating Zoë's 39th birthday on 23 December, quickly followed by the glorious chaos of Christmas with family, friends and their boys' wide-eyed excited innocence.

From BBC

The album's central theme is the ecstasy and chaos of fatherhood, with Dijon addressing the title track to his firstborn, then imploring his wife to expand the family on the subtly-titled Another Baby!

From BBC

It all points to the chaos of the decision-making processes at the heart of government at the time - something explicitly referenced in earlier evidence by the former children's commissioner Anne Longfield.

From BBC

The writer drew on his own youth in this story thrumming with music, memory and the chaos of the holidays.

From The Wall Street Journal

The situation has been described as "absolute chaos" by one traveller, and images of the port show a long line of vehicles queuing at a standstill.

From BBC

Related Words

• anarchy
• disarray
• discord
• disorder
• lawlessness
• pandemonium
• tumult
• turmoil