cosmos

noun

cos·​mos ˈkäz-məs How to pronounce cosmos (audio)
 senses 1 & 2 also  -ˌmōs,
-ˌmäs How to pronounce cosmos (audio)
1
b(1)
: an orderly harmonious systematic universe compare chaos
(2)
2
: a complex orderly self-inclusive system
3
plural cosmos ˈkäz-məs How to pronounce cosmos (audio)
-məz
also cosmoses ˈkäz-mə-səz How to pronounce cosmos (audio) [New Latin, genus name, from Greek kosmos] : any of a genus (Cosmos) of tropical American composite herbs
especially : a widely cultivated tall annual (C. bipinnatus) with yellow or red disks and showy ray flowers

Illustration of cosmos

Illustration of cosmos
  • cosmos 3

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Cosmos and the Universe

Cosmos often simply means "universe". But the word is generally used to suggest an orderly or harmonious universe, as it was originally used by Pythagoras in the 6th century B.C. Thus, a religious mystic may help put us in touch with the cosmos, and so may a physicist. The same is often true of the adjective cosmic: Cosmic rays (really particles rather than rays) bombard us from outer space, but cosmic questions come from human attempts to find order in the universe.

Examples of cosmos in a Sentence

the origins of the cosmos an essay that ponders the place of humankind in the vast cosmos
Recent Examples on the Web The Cupola is a control center in the ISS with seven portholes that allow astronauts to work while enjoying a 360-degree view of the outside, providing an exceptional observatory for studying the Earth and the entire cosmos. Massimo Comparini, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2023 Beneath the dipole sit one-part-in-a-million temperature differences, a sign of the first density fluctuations that would grow to dominate the entire cosmos. Paul Sutter, Ars Technica, 24 Apr. 2023 Across the entire cosmos, the average density of all the matter is roughly one hydrogen atom per cubic meter. Paul M. Sutter, Discover Magazine, 23 Nov. 2023 Saar was exhilarated by the worlds that Cornell created in boxes: unapologetically romantic and history-rich cosmoses, where dreams and cultural artifacts and even the stars Cornell loved, ranging from Lauren Bacall to Susan Sontag, were presented as though on a stage. Hilton Als, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2023 This week is the Perseids’ week—an annual gift from a cosmos that most of us will never touch, but that all of us can see and celebrate. Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 11 Aug. 2023 Posey can conjure an entire cosmos in a tiny, swarming square. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 16 June 2023 The answers to many cosmological mysteries—the nature of dark energy, the properties of the ancient cosmos, and more—live inside the voids. Popular Mechanics, 6 June 2023 What are your top plant recommendations for a home gardener looking to start growing their own cake decor? Flowers: Sunflowers, cosmos, and passionfruit. Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 16 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cosmos.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Greek kosmos

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of cosmos was in 1596

Dictionary Entries Near cosmos

Cite this Entry

“Cosmos.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cosmos. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cosmos

noun
cos·​mos ˈkäz-məs How to pronounce cosmos (audio)
senses 1 & 2 also
-ˌmōs How to pronounce cosmos (audio)
-ˌmäs
1
: the orderly universe
2
: a complex harmonious system
3
: a tall garden plant that is related to the daisies and has showy white, pink, or rose-colored flower heads with usually yellow centers

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