What does entropy mean?

Pronunciation

/ɛnˈtrəpi/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Noun

Definition

A measure of the disorder or randomness in a system or process, often measured as the amount of energy unavailable to do work.

Examples

• The concept of entropy is crucial in understanding the second law of thermodynamics.
• The increase in entropy in a closed system is a fundamental principle of physics.

Synonyms

• Disorder
• Chaos

Antonyms

• Order
• Symmetry

Additional Information

Entropy is a fundamental concept in thermodynamics and has far-reaching implications in many fields, including physics, chemistry, biology, and philosophy. It is often used to describe the loss of energy or information in a system over time. In a broader sense, entropy can also be used to describe the disorder or randomness in any system, whether physical or abstract.

In the context of living systems, entropy can be seen as the measure of the energy expended to maintain order and organization. In information theory, entropy is used to quantify the amount of information in a message.

Etymology

The word “entropy” comes from the Greek word “ἐν汝πία” (enteleia), meaning “transformation” or “change”.

Usage Notes

Entropy is often used in scientific and technical contexts, particularly in the fields of physics and chemistry. It can be used in a more general sense to describe the disorder or randomness in any system.

Cultural References

Entropy has been referenced in various forms of media, including literature, music, and film. It is often used as a metaphor for chaos, disorder, or the breakdown of social norms.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

• “Entropy has increased” – used to describe a situation where things have become more chaotic or disordered
• “The entropy of the system is increasing” – used to describe a situation where the disorder or randomness in a system is increasing

Related Words or Phrases

• Order
• Chaos
• Disorder
• Randomness

Collocations

• Entropy and information
• Entropy and disorder
• Entropy and randomness

Frequency of Use

Entropy is commonly used in scientific and technical contexts, particularly in the fields of physics and chemistry. It is less commonly used in everyday language, but can be used to describe situations of chaos or disorder.

Common Misspellings

• Entheropy
• Entrophy
• Enthropy