en·tro·py ( n tr -p )n. pl. en·tro·pies 1. Symbol S For a closed thermodynamic system, a quantitative measure of the amount of thermal energy not available to do work. 2. A measure of the disorder or randomness in a closed system. 3. A measure of the loss of information in a transmitted message. 4. The tendency for all matter and energy in the universe to evolve toward a state of inert uniformity. 5. Inevitable and steady deterioration of a system or society. [German Entropie : Greek en-, in; see en-2 + Greek trop , transformation; see trep- in Indo-European roots.]en·tro pic (n-tr p k, -tr pk) adj.en·tro pi·cal·ly adv. |
entropy [ˈɛntrəpɪ]
n pl -pies
1. (Physics / General Physics) a thermodynamic quantity that changes in a reversible process by an amount equal to the heat absorbed or emitted divided by the thermodynamic temperature. It is measured in joules per kelvin. Symbol S See also law of thermodynamics [1]
2. (Physics / General Physics) a statistical measure of the disorder of a closed system expressed by S = klog P + c where P is the probability that a particular state of the system exists, k is the Boltzmann constant, and c is another constant
3. lack of pattern or organization; disorder
4. (Electronics & Computer Science / Communications & Information) a measure of the efficiency of a system, such as a code or language, in transmitting information
[from en-2 + -trope]
| entropy (ntr-p) A measure of the amount of energy in a physical system not available to do work. As a physical system becomes more disordered, and its energy becomes more evenly distributed, that energy becomes less able to do work. For example, a car rolling along a road has kinetic energy that could do work (by carrying or colliding with something, for example); as friction slows it down and its energy is distributed to its surroundings as heat, it loses this ability. The amount of entropy is often thought of as the amount of disorder in a system. See also heat death. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | entropy - (communication theory) a numerical measure of the uncertainty of an outcome; "the signal contained thousands of bits of information" communication theory, communications - the discipline that studies the principles of transmiting information and the methods by which it is delivered (as print or radio or television etc.); "communications is his major field of study" information measure - a system of measurement of information based on the probabilities of the events that convey information |
| 2. | entropy - (thermodynamics) a thermodynamic quantity representing the amount of energy in a system that is no longer available for doing mechanical work; "entropy increases as matter and energy in the universe degrade to an ultimate state of inert uniformity" physical property - any property used to characterize matter and energy and their interactions conformational entropy - entropy calculated from the probability that a state could be reached by chance alone thermodynamics - the branch of physics concerned with the conversion of different forms of energy |
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