entropy

C2+ Topic:Physics

US /ˈɛntrəpi/ UK /ˈɛntrəpi/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
a measure of disorder or of energy unavailable for work in a system

The second law of thermodynamics states that entropy tends to increase.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a measure of disorder or of... disorderrandomnesschaos disorganization degradation decay

Opposites

order organizationnegentropy

Word family

Derived forms entropic

Related forms enthalpy

Etymology

Coined in 1865 by Rudolf Clausius from Ancient Greek en- ('in') + tropḗ ('a turning, transformation'), modeled on energy, from trepein ('to turn').

ἐν- Ancient Greek τροπή Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Physics Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# entropy

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈɛntrəpi/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈɛntrəpi/

## Meanings
1. a measure of disorder or of energy unavailable for work in a system

## Examples
- The second law of thermodynamics states that entropy tends to increase.

## Synonyms
- disorder
- randomness
- chaos
- disorganization
- degradation
- decay

## Antonyms
- order
- organization
- negentropy

## Derived Forms
- entropic

## Related Forms
- enthalpy

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: ἐν-
- Root: τροπή

## Etymology
Coined in 1865 by Rudolf Clausius from Ancient Greek en- ('in') + tropḗ ('a turning, transformation'), modeled on energy, from trepein ('to turn').

## AI Etymology
Entropy was coined in 1865 by Rudolf Clausius from Ancient Greek en- ('in') + tropḗ ('a turning, transformation'), modeled on energy, from trepein ('to turn'). The etymological trail includes Ancient Greek ἐν- and Ancient Greek τροπή. As a noun, entropy names a measure of disorder or of energy unavailable for work in a system. The same family is visible in derived forms such as entropic and related forms such as enthalpy. The analysis is partly morphological, with the modern form built from the elements named in the history.

## Topics
- Physics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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