WordValeentropy
a measure of disorder or randomness in a system
In more detail
1. (noun) a measure of disorder or randomness in a system; the tendency of things to become disorganized
2. (noun) in thermodynamics, a measure of energy in a system that is no longer available to do work
Examples
- 1. As the universe ages, entropy increases and everything tends toward disorder.
- 2. The entropy of a gas increases when it expands into a larger container.
How to use entropy
Entropy is used in physics and thermodynamics to describe the quantitative measure of disorder or unavailable energy in a system, following the second law of thermodynamics. It is also used metaphorically in non-scientific contexts to mean general chaos or decline. The term carries a technical precision in scientific discourse but becomes more metaphorical in everyday language.
Common phrases
- increase in entropy
- entropy increases
- law of entropy
- entropy of the system
- thermodynamic entropy
- cultural entropy
Synonyms
disorder · chaos · randomness · disorganization · degradation
Opposites
order · organization · structure
Word family
entropic (adjective)
A common mistake
Learners often confuse entropy with simple 'disorder' and forget that in thermodynamics it has a precise mathematical definition related to energy state rather than just random messiness.
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