closed system

noun

, Thermodynamics.

1. a region that is isolated from its surroundings by a boundary that admits no transfer of matter or energy across it.

closed system

1. A physical system that does not interact with other systems. A closed system obeys the conservation laws in its physical description.
2. Also called isolated system
3. Compare open system

Word History and Origins

Origin of closed system¹

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

In all other cases, you have to take your data and get that ingested into an external system, especially a closed system.

From Digiday

A closed system prevents milk from coming into contact with the pump, making this model simpler to sterilize.

From Popular-Science

Studies suggest that changing the primary system from a closed system, where only party registrants can vote, to an open primary or a top-two primary doesn’t really alter the makeup of the primary electorate.

From FiveThirtyEight

They don’t want a closed system, such as the Super League, in which teams compete risk-free.

From Washington Post

At present, we can’t know because policing and police leadership are closed systems.

From Voice of San Diego

To buy an Apple product is to bet on the longevity of the closed system to which we've committed ourselves.

From The Daily Beast

For by definition they form a closed system; to introduce reference to a future event is to deny the definition.

From Project Gutenberg

Vascular system generally present forming a closed system of tubes.

From Project Gutenberg

Vascular system always present, forming a closed system, more complicated in the larger forms than in the aquatic genera.

From Project Gutenberg

The complex of ideas becomes a closed system, a world in and of itself.

From Project Gutenberg

The development of man is a closed system; its term is known and is within reach.

From Project Gutenberg