universe
//ˈjuːnɪˌvɜːs//
Forms
- Plural
- universes
Definitions
1.The sum of everything that exists in the cosmos.
- Do you think that the universe was created by a life force or a deity?
2.Everything under consideration.
- In all this universe of possibilities, there is only one feasible option.
- In general content-related evidence demonstrates the degree to which the sample of items, tasks or questions on a test is representative of some defined universe or domain of content.
3.An imaginary collection of worlds; the general imaginary world within which a work of fiction takes place, broader than its immediate setting.
- The universe in this comic book series is richly imagined.
4.A whole world, in the sense of perspective or social setting.
- That didn’t just rock my world, it rocked my universe.
Frequency
Overall
Common· #1852
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Word family
Etymology
From Middle English universe, from Old French univers, from Latin universum (“all things, as a whole, the universe”), neuter of universus (“all together, whole, entire, collective, general, literally turned or combined into one”), from uni-, combining form of unus (“one”) + versus (“turned”), perfect passive participle of vertō (“to turn”).