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| n. 1. All spacetime, matter, and energy, including the solar system, all stars and galaxies, and the contents of intergalactic space, regarded as a whole. 2. A hypothetical whole of spacetime, matter, and energy that is purported to exist simultaneously with but to be different from this universe: an alternate universe. 3. a. A model or conception of the earth and everything else that exists: “Apart from celestial beings, the aboriginals' universe contained spirits of the land and sea” (Madhusree Mukerjee). b. The human race or a subset of it: “It was a universe that took slavery for granted” (Adam Hochschild). 4. A sphere of interest, activity, or understanding: “their almost hermetically sealed-off universe of part-time jobs and study and improvised meals” (Sue Miller). 5. Logic See universe of discourse. 6. Statistics See population. [Middle English, from Old French univers, from Latin ūniversum, from neuter of ūniversus, whole : ūnus, one; see oi-no- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + versus, past participle of vertere, to turn; see wer-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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