universe
n. countablen. everything that exists, including all of space, the stars, and the planets. It can also mean a specific world or area of interest, like the world of a book.
n. the totality of all existing matter, energy, and space. In specific contexts, it refers to a distinct sphere of activity or the entire population from which a statistical sample is drawn.
Scientists study how the universe began billions of years ago.
The author spent years developing the complex history and unique languages of her fictional universe.
While early astronomers viewed the universe as a static arrangement of celestial bodies, modern physics reveals a dynamic, expanding system governed by the laws of general relativity.
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”). Analyzable as uni- + -verse through backformation of -verse.
Typically used with the definite article 'the' when referring to the physical cosmos.