universe

[ yoo-nuh-vurs ]
See synonyms for universe on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the universe. the totality of known or supposed objects and phenomena throughout space; the cosmos; macrocosm.

  2. the whole world, especially with reference to humanity: a truth known throughout the universe.

  1. a world or sphere in which something exists or prevails: his private universe.

  2. in New Age philosophy and popular culture, a divine but nonpersonal being, consciousness, or field of energy believed to connect everything that is, allowing the interaction of the physical with the spiritual and thought with reality.

  3. Also called u·ni·verse of dis·course [yoo-nuh-vursuhv dis-kawrs] /ˈyu nəˌvɜrs əv ˈdɪs kɔrs/ .Logic. the aggregate of all the objects, attributes, and relations assumed or implied in a given discussion.

  4. Also called u·ni·ver·sal set [yoo-nuh-vur-suhl set] /ˈyu nəˌvɜr səl ˈsɛt/ .Mathematics. the set of all elements under discussion for a given problem.

  5. Statistics. the entire population under study.

Origin of universe

1
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Old French univers, from Latin ūniversum, noun use of neuter of ūniversus “all, entire,” literally, “turned into one,” from ūni- uni- + versus “turned” (past participle of vertere “to turn”)

Other words from universe

  • sub·u·ni·verse, noun
  • su·per·u·ni·verse, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use universe in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for universe

universe

/ (ˈjuːnɪˌvɜːs) /


noun
  1. astronomy the aggregate of all existing matter, energy, and space

  2. human beings collectively

  1. a province or sphere of thought or activity

  2. statistics another word for population (def. 7)

Origin of universe

1
C16: from French univers, from Latin ūniversum the whole world, from ūniversus all together, from uni- + vertere to turn

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for universe

universe

[ yōōnə-vûrs′ ]


  1. The totality of matter, energy, and space, including the Solar System, the galaxies, and the contents of the space between the galaxies. Current theories of cosmology suggest that the universe is constantly expanding.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.