cosmos

noun

cos·mos | \ ˈkäz-məs ,

senses 1 & 2 also -ˌmōs , -ˌmäs

Definition of cosmos

1a : universe sense 1

b(1) : an orderly harmonious systematic universe — compare chaos

(2) : order, harmony

2 : a complex orderly self-inclusive system

3 plural cosmos\ˈkäz-məs, -məz\ also cosmoses\ˈkäz-mə-səz \ [ 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

Synonyms cosmos and the Universe Example Sentences Learn More about cosmos

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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

If telescopes are our eyes on the cosmos, neutrino detectors might be our ears, or nose: Their signals reveal complementary information. — Sophia Chen, WIRED, "What's a Blazar? A Galactic Bakery for Cosmic Rays," 12 July 2018 At curtain, ethereal lights rise on a shadowy cosmos represented by stage fog, evocative costumes, music and free-style dance movement (one cast member twirls a spinning globe) as a prelude to video clips from interviews with real people. — Patti Restivo, Howard County Times, "In 'Making Advances,' a staged revolution," 14 June 2018 Observing these photons led to startling discoveries about our cosmos, from the Big Bang to the existence of dark matter. — Eoin O'carroll, The Christian Science Monitor, "Neutrino demonstration heralds a new way of observing the cosmos," 12 July 2018 Whenever researchers invent a new method, unprecedented information is collected and people’s understanding of the cosmos deepens. — Scientific American, "Astronomy at the Speed of Light," 3 July 2018 Want to keep expanding your consciousness about the cosmos? — Shannon Stirone, WIRED, "Space Photos of the Week: Scientists Are Seeing Red Over Jupiter’s Spot," 30 June 2018 No discussion of soul-stirring places seems complete without inclusion of the cosmos. — Travel Wisconsin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "The cosmos," 10 June 2018 That would mean the people restoring human spaceflight from U.S. soil won't be NASA astronauts at all, but the private executives and their customers who have become the new celebrities of America's foray into the cosmos. — Christian Davenport, Houston Chronicle, "What does it mean to be a NASA astronaut in the celebrity space age of Elon Musk and Richard Branson?," 15 June 2018 While having your voice beamed into the cosmos is a pretty high honor, Stephen Castle at The New York Times reports that being buried in Westminster Abbey is about the highest Earthly honor out there. — Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "A Message From Stephen Hawking Is On Its Way to a Black Hole," 15 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cosmos.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.