cosmos

American  

[koz-mohs, -muhs] / ˈkɒz moʊs, -məs /

noun

plural

cosmos, cosmoses

1. the world or universe regarded as an orderly, harmonious system.

2. a complete, orderly, harmonious system.

3. order; harmony.

4. any composite plant of the genus Cosmos, of tropical America, some species of which, as C. bipannatus and C. sulphureus, are cultivated for their showy ray flowers.

5. (initial capital letter) Also Kosmos. one of a long series of Soviet satellites that have been launched into orbit around the earth.

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cosmos ¹ British  

/ ˈkɒzmɒs /

noun

1. the world or universe considered as an ordered system

2. any ordered system

3. harmony; order

4. any tropical American plant of the genus Cosmos, cultivated as garden plants for their brightly coloured flowers: family Asteraceae (composites)

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Cosmos ² British  

/ ˈkɒzmɒs /

noun

1. astronautics any of various types of Soviet satellite, including Cosmos 1 (launched 1962) and nearly 2000 subsequent satellites

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cosmos Scientific  

/ kŏz′məs,kŏz′mōs′ /

1. The universe, especially when considered as an orderly and harmonious whole.

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Usage

What is the cosmos flower? A cosmos is a flower with brightly colored, raylike petals.The name cosmos can be used for any plant in the genus Cosmos. The plural can be cosmos or cosmoses.Cosmoses are popular in gardens. Two of the best-known species are Cosmos bipannatus and Cosmos sulphureus (known as sulphur cosmos), both of which are cultivated for their flowers.Cosmos flowers vary widely in color. Varieties include yellow, orange, pink, and purple. In some varieties, the petals are notched at the tips.Cosmos are one of the October birth flowers (a flower that’s associated with a particular month in the same way as a birthstone).Example: The display at the botanical garden featured flashy orange cosmoses.

Etymology

Origin of cosmos

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English, from Greek kósmos “order, form, arrangement, the world or universe”

Example Sentences

Kent’s jet-black sea is indistinguishable from the cosmos, and his white whale glows like some luminary body within it.

From The Wall Street Journal

“I like being able to see the tiniest detail, then letting it expand out into the cosmos. I’m thinking about those two scales constantly and about where we fit between those scales.”

From Los Angeles Times

Consequently there will continue to be passionate, sometimes contentious, debate over whether the cosmos is gently whispering to us about its true nature, or whether astronomers are chasing celestial ghosts.

From BBC

I don’t consider Klee—sui generis—to be a Surrealist, but “Fish Magic,” merging aquarium, children’s art, still life, cosmos and landscape, is the quintessential portrait of a dream.

From The Wall Street Journal

Simply by following her lead, perhaps I can approach my place in the cosmos for the wondrous adventure it is.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• galaxy
• solar system