Main Entry: cha·os

Pronunciation: \ˈkā-ˌäs\

Function: noun

Etymology: Latin, from Greek — more at gum

Date: 15th century

1 obsolete : chasm, abyss
2 a often 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