entropy

Meanings

1. 1noununcountabletechnicalphysics

   In physics, a measure of how spread out or disordered the energy in a system is; it tends to increase over time.

   Grammar: Used as an uncountable noun: entropy increases, not entropies.

   Patterns

   • entropy increases
   • the entropy of something
   • a change in entropy

   The second law of thermodynamics says that the entropy of an isolated system never decreases.

   As the ice melts, the entropy of the water molecules increases.

   Engineers calculate the change in entropy to see how efficient a machine is.

2. 2noununcountablefigurative

   A state of increasing disorder, confusion, or lack of organization in a situation or system.

   Grammar: Used figuratively, often with verbs like 'create' or 'reduce'.

   Patterns

   • create entropy
   • reduce entropy
   • a state of entropy

   Without clear rules, the office quickly fell into entropy.

   The new manager was hired to reduce the entropy in the department.

   The novel describes the slow entropy of a once-thriving town.

Common combinations

entropy increases

In any real process, total entropy increases.

a measure of entropy

Temperature is not a measure of entropy.

the entropy of the universe

Some physicists say the entropy of the universe is always growing.

social entropy

The book uses 'social entropy' to describe the breakdown of shared values.

Synonyms and how they differ

disorder

Disorder is a general word for lack of order; entropy is a technical measure in physics or a figurative term for increasing chaos.

randomness

Randomness emphasizes unpredictability; entropy in physics measures how many microscopic arrangements are possible.

Opposites

Word family

entropic adjective

Relating to entropy, as in 'entropic forces'.

Commonly confused: entropy or energy?

Practice

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