heat death

noun

, Thermodynamics.

1. entropy3

heat death

noun

1. thermodynamics the condition of any closed system when its total entropy is a maximum and it has no available energy. If the universe is a closed system, it should eventually reach this state

heat death

1. The eventual dispersion of all of the energy within a physical system to a completely uniform distribution of heat energy, that is, to maximum entropy. Heat death for all macroscopic physical systems, including the universe, is predicted by the Second Law of Thermodynamics.
2. See more at entropy

Word History and Origins

Origin of heat death¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

The heat death of the universe is the end state of a universe that’s ruled by accelerated expansion forever.

From Quanta Magazine