Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

chiasm

noun
chi·​asm | \ ˈkī-ˌa-zəm How to pronounce chiasm (audio) , ˈkē- How to pronounce chiasm (audio) \

Definition of chiasm

: chiasma sense 1

First Known Use of chiasm

1870, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for chiasm

New Latin chiasma

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about chiasm

Statistics for chiasm

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for chiasm

The first known use of chiasm was in 1870

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for chiasm

chiasm

noun
chi·​asm | \ ˈkī-ˌaz-əm How to pronounce chiasm (audio) , ˈkē- How to pronounce chiasm (audio) \

Medical Definition of chiasm

: chiasma sense 1

More from Merriam-Webster on chiasm

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with chiasm

Comments on chiasm

What made you want to look up chiasm? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

disparage

Listen to the pronounciation of disparage

to speak slightingly about or to degrade

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

  • stylized drawing of woman pole vaulting across gap to get trophy
  • Which is a synonym of fuliginous?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games