Main Entry:

cha·os

Pronunciation:

\ˈkā-ˌäs\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Latin, from Greek — more at gum

Date:

15th century

1obsolete : chasm, abyss2 aoften capitalized : a state of things in which chance is supreme ; especially : the confused unorganized state of primordial matter before the creation of distinct forms — compare cosmos b: the inherent unpredictability in the behavior of a complex natural system (as the atmosphere, boiling water, or the beating heart)3 a: a state of utter confusion <the blackout caused chaos throughout the city> b: a confused mass or mixture <a chaos of television antennas>

— cha·ot·ic \kā-ˈä-tik\ adjective

— cha·ot·i·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb