Adjacent Words

Universe definitions

	Tweet

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

U'NIVERSE, n. [L. universitas.]
The collective name of heaven and earth, and all that belongs to them; the whole system of created things.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: everything that exists anywhere; "they study the evolution of the universe"; "the biggest tree in existence" [syn: universe, existence, creation, world, cosmos, macrocosm]
2: (statistics) the entire aggregation of items from which samples can be drawn; "it is an estimate of the mean of the population" [syn: population, universe]
3: everything stated or assumed in a given discussion [syn: universe, universe of discourse]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Latin universum, from neuter of universus entire, whole, from uni- + versus turned toward, from past participle of vertere to turn — more at worth Date: 14th century 1. the whole body of things and phenomena observed or postulated ; cosmos: as a. a systematic whole held to arise by and persist through the direct intervention of divine power b. the world of human experience c. (1) the entire celestial cosmos (2) Milky Way galaxy (3) an aggregate of stars comparable to the Milky Way galaxy 2. a distinct field or province of thought or reality that forms a closed system or self-inclusive and independent organization 3. population 4 4. a set that contains all elements relevant to a particular discussion or problem 5. a great number or quantity <a large enough universe of stocks…to choose from — G. B. Clairmont>

Britannica Concise

Whole cosmic system of matter and energy of which the earth is a part. Its main constituents are the galaxies, within which are stars and stellar groupings, and nebulae (see nebula). Earth's sun is one star among the billions of stars in our galaxy, the Milky Way. All atoms, subatomic particles, and everything they compose are also part of the universe. The universe is governed by four fundamental forces: the strong force, the weak force, the electromagnetic force, and gravititation. Numerous theories have been proposed for the origin and structure of the universe. See also big bang, cosmology, expanding universe, steady-state theory.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 all existing things; the whole creation; the cosmos. 2 all mankind. 3 Statistics & Logic all the objects under consideration. Phrases and idioms: universe of discourse Logic = sense 3. Etymology: F univers f. L universum neut. of universus combined into one, whole f. UNI- + versus past part. of vertere turn

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Universe U"ni*verse, n. [L. universum, from universus universal; unus one + vertere, versum, to turn, that is, turned into one, combined into one whole; cf. F. univers. See One, and Verse.] All created things viewed as constituting one system or whole; the whole body of things, or of phenomena; the ? ? of the Greeks, the mundus of the Latins; the world; creation. How may I Adore thee, Author of this universe And all this good to man! --Milton.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(universes) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. The universe is the whole of space and all the stars, planets, and other forms of matter and energy in it. Early astronomers thought that our planet was the centre of the universe. N-COUNT: usu the N in sing 2. If you talk about someone's universe, you are referring to the whole of their experience or an important part of it. Good writers suck in what they see of the world, re-creating their own universe on the page... = world N-COUNT: usu sing, oft with poss

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. World, cosmos, nature, whole creation, all created things.

Moby Thesaurus

Anschauung, angle, angle of vision, bailiwick, basis, circle, corner, cosmos, creation, domain, eye, footing, frame of reference, framework, light, macrocosm, macrocosmos, megacosm, mental outlook, microcosm, milieu, nature, outlook, place, point of view, position, province, quarter, reference system, regard, respect, side, sight, situation, slant, sphere, stand, standpoint, system, territory, view, viewpoint, world