cosmos

[ koz-mohs, -muhs ]

noun

, plural cos·mos, cos·mos·es

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 Kos·mos. Aerospace. one of a long series of Soviet satellites that have been launched into orbit around the earth.

Cosmos

¹

/ ˈkɒzmɒs /

noun

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

cosmos

²

/ ˈkɒzmɒs /

noun

1. the world or universe considered as an ordered system
2. any ordered system
3. harmony; order
4. -mos-moses any tropical American plant of the genus Cosmos, cultivated as garden plants for their brightly coloured flowers: family Asteraceae (composites)

cosmos

/ kŏz′məs,kŏz′mōs′ /

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of cosmos¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of cosmos¹

C17: from Greek kosmos order, world, universe

Example Sentences

The Crab Nebula features a neutron star at its center that has formed into a 12-mile-wide pulsar pinwheeling electromagnetic radiation across the cosmos.

From Science Daily

A female figure on screen expands the madness to the digital cosmos.

From Los Angeles Times

Rabbi Susan Goldberg spoke with infectious joy about hachniah, which means surrendering to the greater oneness of our communities in the world and the cosmos.

From Los Angeles Times

The “Get Ur Freak On” singer wowed fans again with dancers in glow-in-the-dark costumes, projections of spaceships and an animation of Elliott dressed as an astronaut and grinning as she glides through the cosmos.

From Los Angeles Times

“It causes us to ponder the sky and the cosmos at large, and it gives us a much different sense of what’s important and how long things last,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• galaxy
• solar system

More About The Cosmos Flower

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.

Where does cosmos come from?

The first records of the word cosmos in reference to the plant or flower come from the 1800s. It comes from a Greek word meaning “ornament,” in reference to its showy flowers. The word cosmos in reference to the universe derives from the same word, which also means “order, form, arrangement”—this word was used to refer to the universe due to the perception of its harmonious order.

Cosmos plants are native to tropical regions of the Americas, especially Mexico. Ornamental cosmoses, such as the varieties C. bipannatus and C. sulphureus, are annual, meaning they complete their life cycle in a single growing season.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to cosmos?

• cosmoses (plural)
• cosmos (alternate plural)

What are some words that share a root or word element with cosmos?

• cosmopolitan
• cosmic
• cosmology

What are some words that often get used in discussing cosmos?

• flower
• garden
• bouquet
• orange
• pink
• October

How is cosmos used in real life?

Cosmoses are popular in gardens.

That nostalgic feeling on an April road trip on the N3 when cosmos flowers are in full bloom pic.twitter.com/1UwqL4GWwG

— tas, me & yah (@thaltassophile) April 1, 2021

In the language of flowers, cosmos is the symbol of love and innocence. Other cosmos flower meanings include beauty, balance, modesty, joy

Cosmos is the October birth flower & the second wedding anniversary flower#flowers #naturelovers #flowerlore #flowerlanguage #wiccanwitch pic.twitter.com/Qbj3JftHZq

— Calleenscrafts (@Calleenscrafts) November 8, 2020

Wonderful prize winning #garden. A riot of colour, haven for pollinators. The gardener says not costly, plant seeds, recommends Cosmos, take cuttings & it has been great during #lockdown ⁦@nottmcityhomes⁩ pic.twitter.com/xZwpPcIb1F

— Sally Longford (@SallyLongford) March 29, 2021

Try using cosmos!

True or False? 

When it refers to the plant or flower, the plural of cosmos can be cosmos or cosmoses.