chasm
[ kaz-uh m ]
/ ˈkæz əm /
noun
a yawning fissure or deep cleft in the earth's surface; gorge.
a breach or wide fissure in a wall or other structure.
a marked interruption of continuity; gap: a chasm in time.
a sundering breach in relations, as a divergence of opinions, beliefs, etc., between persons or groups.
RELATED WORDS
rift, crevasse, fissure, void, schism, crater, gorge, cleavage, ravine, omission, skip, hollow, rent, blank, gulf, cavity, split, breach, oversight, abysm
Nearby words
- chasid,
- chasidic,
- chasidim,
- chasing,
- chasles,
- chasmogamous,
- chasmogamy,
- chasse,
- chasse gardée,
- chassepot
Origin of chasm
1590–1600; apocopated variant of chasma < Latin < Greek, equivalent to cha- (root of chaínein to gape; see yawn) + -(a)sma resultative suffix
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for chasm
chasm
/ (ˈkæzəm) /
noun
a deep cleft in the ground; abyss
a break in continuity; gap
a wide difference in interests, feelings, etc
Word Origin for chasm
C17: from Latin chasma, from Greek khasma; related to Greek khainein to gape
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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chasm
1590s, "deep crack in the earth," from Latin chasma, from Greek khasma "yawning hollow, gulf," related to khaskein "to yawn," and thus to chaos. In English in 17c. often spelled chasma. Figurative use from 1640s. Related: Chasmal; chasmic.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper