entropy
English meaning: Entropy
English Definition
(English)Entropy (from Greek: entropia = a turning toward) quantifies the degree of disorder in a thermodynamic system. The Second Law states entropy increases spontaneously — heat flows from hot to cold, ice melts, gases expand — all moving toward greater disorder. This gives time a direction ('arrow of time'). Information entropy (Shannon) measures the uncertainty in a message, foundational to data compression and cryptography.
English Definition
In thermodynamics, a measure of disorder or randomness in a system — the Second Law of Thermodynamics states that entropy always increases in a closed system, meaning disorder naturally increases over time. In information theory, entropy measures unpredictability or information content.
Example
“The Second Law of Thermodynamics — entropy always increases — explains why a broken cup never spontaneously reassembles, and why the universe drifts toward disorder.”
In English: “Entropy explains why natural processes are irreversible — disorder always increases spontaneously.”
Synonyms
- disorder
- randomness
- thermodynamic disorder
Antonyms / Opposites
- order
- negentropy
Literary Heritage
“To see a World in a Grain of Sand, and a Heaven in a Wild Flower, hold Infinity in the palm of your hand, and Eternity in an hour.”
“To see a World in a Grain of Sand, and a Heaven in a Wild Flower, hold Infinity in the palm of your hand, and Eternity in an hour.”
Images
CC-licensed · free to useVideo
Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B