Wednesday, 18 April 2012

word of the day:part thirty-six | entrophy

entrophy

en·tro·py [ˈɛntrəpɪ]

1. Symbol S For a closed thermodynamic system, a quantitative measure of the amount of thermal energy not available to do work.
2. A measure of the disorder or randomness in a closed system.
3. A measure of the loss of information in a transmitted message.
4. The tendency for all matter and energy in the universe to evolve toward a state of inert uniformity.
5. Inevitable and steady deterioration of a system or society.

[German Entropie : Greek en-, in; see en-2 + Greek trop, transformation; see trep- in Indo-European roots.]

entropic | adj.
entropically | adv.
entropies | n. pl

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