entropy
n 1: (communication theory) a numerical measure of the
uncertainty of an outcome; "the signal contained thousands
of bits of information" [syn: information, selective
information}, entropy]
2: (thermodynamics) a thermodynamic quantity representing the
amount of energy in a system that is no longer available for
doing mechanical work; "entropy increases as matter and
energy in the universe degrade to an ultimate state of inert
uniformity" [syn: randomness, entropy, S]
entropy noun (plural-pies)
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary 2en-
+ Greek tropē change, literally, turn, from trepein to turn
Date: 1875 1. a measure of the unavailable energy in a closed
thermodynamic system that is also usually considered to be a measure of the
system's disorder, that is a property of the system's state, and that varies
directly with any reversible change in heat in the system and inversely
with the temperature of the system; broadly the degree of disorder
or uncertainty in a system 2.a. the degradation of the matter and energy in the universe to an
ultimate state of inert uniformity b. a process of degradation or
running down or a trend to disorder
3.chaos, disorganization, randomness • entropicadjective • entropicallyadverb
entropy n. 1 Physics a measure of the unavailability of a system's thermal energy for conversion into mechanical work. 2 Physics a measure of the disorganization or degradation of the
universe. 3 a measure of the rate of transfer of information in a message etc. Derivatives: entropic adj. entropically adv. Etymology: G Entropie (as EN-(2), Gk trope
transformation)
entropy
n. 1 Physics a measure of the unavailability of a system's thermal energy for
conversion into mechanical work. 2 Physics a measure of the disorganization or
degradation of the universe. 3 a measure of the rate of transfer of information
in a message etc. øøentropic adj. entropically adv. [G Entropie (as EN-(2),
Gk trope transformation)]
Entropy \En"tro*py\, n. [Gr. ? a turning in; ? in + ? a turn,
fr. ? to turn.] (Thermodynamics)
A certain property of a body, expressed as a measurable
quantity, such that when there is no communication of heat
the quantity remains constant, but when heat enters or leaves
the body the quantity increases or diminishes. If a small
amount, h, of heat enters the body when its temperature is t
in the thermodynamic scale the entropy of the body is
increased by h ? t. The entropy is regarded as measured from
some standard temperature and pressure. Sometimes called the
thermodynamic function.
The entropy of the universe tends towards a maximum.
--Clausius.
Heat \Heat\, n. [OE. hete, h[ae]te, AS. h?tu, h?to, fr. h[=a]t
hot; akin to OHG. heizi heat, Dan. hede, Sw. hetta. See
Hot.]
1. A force in nature which is recognized in various effects,
but especially in the phenomena of fusion and evaporation,
and which, as manifested in fire, the sun's rays,
mechanical action, chemical combination, etc., becomes
directly known to us through the sense of feeling. In its
nature heat is a mode if motion, being in general a form
of molecular disturbance or vibration. It was formerly
supposed to be a subtile, imponderable fluid, to which was
given the name caloric.
Note: As affecting the human body, heat produces different
sensations, which are called by different names, as
heat or sensible heat, warmth, cold, etc., according to
its degree or amount relatively to the normal
temperature of the body.
2. The sensation caused by the force or influence of heat
when excessive, or above that which is normal to the human
body; the bodily feeling experienced on exposure to fire,
the sun's rays, etc.; the reverse of cold.
3. High temperature, as distinguished from low temperature,
or cold; as, the heat of summer and the cold of winter;
heat of the skin or body in fever, etc.
Else how had the world . . . Avoided pinching cold
and scorching heat! --Milton.
4. Indication of high temperature; appearance, condition, or
color of a body, as indicating its temperature; redness;
high color; flush; degree of temperature to which
something is heated, as indicated by appearance,
condition, or otherwise.
It has raised . . . heats in their faces. --Addison.
The heats smiths take of their iron are a blood-red
heat, a white-flame heat, and a sparking or welding
heat. --Moxon.
5. A single complete operation of heating, as at a forge or
in a furnace; as, to make a horseshoe in a certain number
of heats.
6. A violent action unintermitted; a single effort; a single
course in a race that consists of two or more courses; as,
he won two heats out of three.
Many causes . . . for refreshment betwixt the heats.
--Dryden.
[He] struck off at one heat the matchless tale of
``Tam o'Shanter.'' --J. C.
Shairp.
7. Utmost violence; rage; vehemence; as, the heat of battle
or party. ``The heat of their division.'' --Shak.
8. Agitation of mind; inflammation or excitement;
exasperation. ``The head and hurry of his rage.'' --South.
9. Animation, as in discourse; ardor; fervency.
With all the strength and heat of eloquence.
--Addison.
10. Sexual excitement in animals.
11. Fermentation.
Animal heat, Blood heat, Capacity for heat, etc. See
under Animal, Blood, etc.
Atomic heat (Chem.), the product obtained by multiplying
the atomic weight of any element by its specific heat. The
atomic heat of all solid elements is nearly a constant,
the mean value being 6.4.
Dynamical theory of heat, that theory of heat which assumes
it to be, not a peculiar kind of matter, but a peculiar
motion of the ultimate particles of matter.
Heat engine, any apparatus by which a heated substance, as
a heated fluid, is made to perform work by giving motion
to mechanism, as a hot-air engine, or a steam engine.
Heat producers. (Physiol.) See under Food.
Heat rays, a term formerly applied to the rays near the red
end of the spectrum, whether within or beyond the visible
spectrum.
Heat weight (Mech.), the product of any quantity of heat by
the mechanical equivalent of heat divided by the absolute
temperature; -- called also thermodynamic function, and
entropy.
Mechanical equivalent of heat. See under Equivalent.
Specific heat of a substance (at any temperature), the
number of units of heat required to raise the temperature
of a unit mass of the substance at that temperature one
degree.
Unit of heat, the quantity of heat required to raise, by
one degree, the temperature of a unit mass of water,
initially at a certain standard temperature. The
temperature usually employed is that of 0[deg] Centigrade,
or 32[deg] Fahrenheit.
On most web browsers you can double click any word on this page to see what definitions I have for that word.
This dictionary server is not an authoratative source of information for anything. Like almost everything at sorabji.com, I set this up for my own purposes. In this case the purpose is to
browse words and ideas at random. An automatically generated page that produces 1000 Random Words
is my gateway to this resource. I also attempt a word of the day project,
in which I attempt to write something about myself starting with interesting words that I find through the Wordswarm Random Words Pages. I have made
available the complete 1828 Webster's Dictionary, which many feel is the greatest English dictionary ever published.
Other random links of mine include the Sorabji.com Random Link, which sends you to one of
over 7,000 pages on my web sites; the Face Server produces random images of
human faces; clicking the Random WAYD link shows you a random posting to my "What Are You Doing?" board; the Random USPS
Mailbox link sends you to a page with information about a random mailbox; and the random pictures page page of sorabji.com shows one of over 11,000 random images any time you load the page. On an unrelated note, I have begun making several thousand pages of legal documents searchable.