chasm

American  

[kaz-uhm] / ˈkæz əm /

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.

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chasm British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of chasm

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

Example Sentences

Nothing much happens, until the segment’s finale introduces a twist that suggests the yawning chasm between what we think we know about our parents and what the truth of their lives is.

From Los Angeles Times

In a different sport, one where the wealth gap between the richest franchises and their small-market counterparts wasn’t a ginormous chasm, this would be a very busy winter for the Detroit Tigers.

From The Wall Street Journal

“We’re really looking forward to them getting Starling out because the consensus in the industry is that it could cross a chasm in terms of usability,” says Melius Research analyst Ben Reitzes.

From Barron's

Several animal crew members fall through the newly created chasm and hit the water.

From 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.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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