universe

/ˈjunəvərs/

/ˈjunɪvəs/

Other forms: universes

Universe is a big word — in fact, it includes all matter and all of space.

We can't see or know much about the outer limits of the universe, but we know that it has them, and the idea of matter contained within boundaries gives us other meanings for the word. You might refer to a "universe of ideas," or when conducting a scientific study, create "a universe of data." Universe can also mean a defined set of something — the five blocks between the playground and home can be the whole universe for a small child.

Definitions of universe

1. noun

   everything that exists anywhere
   “they study the evolution of the universe”

   synonyms: cosmos, creation, existence, macrocosm, world

   types:

   closed universe

   (cosmology) a universe that is spatially closed and in which there is sufficient matter to halt the expansion that began with the big bang; the visible matter is only 10 percent of the matter required for closure but there may be large amounts of dark matter

   natural order

   the physical universe considered as an orderly system subject to natural (not human or supernatural) laws

   environment, nature

   (with 'the') the natural physical world including plants, animals, landscapes, etc.

   type of:

   natural object

   an object occurring naturally; not made by man
2. noun

   everything stated or assumed in a given discussion
   synonyms: universe of discourse

   type of:

   cognitive content, content, mental object

   the sum or range of what has been perceived, discovered, or learned
3. noun

   (statistics) the entire aggregation of items from which samples can be drawn
   synonyms: population

   types:

   subpopulation

   a population that is part of a larger population

   type of:

   accumulation, aggregation, assemblage, collection

   several things grouped together or considered as a whole