cosmic
KOZ-mihk
Cosmic (adj) means relating to the universe as a whole, especially outer space. Example: “Cosmic radiation from deep space constantly bombards the Earth's atmosphere.”
adj
1
Relating to the universe as a whole, especially outer space.
"Cosmic radiation from deep space constantly bombards the Earth's atmosphere."
"Astronomers study cosmic dust to learn how stars and planets form."
"The telescope picked up faint cosmic signals from distant galaxies."
2
Vast in scale, almost beyond comprehension.
"It was a cosmic coincidence that they met again after twenty years apart."
How to use cosmic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo do with the universe, or used loosely to mean "enormous" or "beyond ordinary understanding."
Common pairings
cosmic radiation
cosmic scale
cosmic irony
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more cosmic
- Superlative
- most cosmic
Fill the gap
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_____ radiation from deep space constantly bombards the Earth's atmosphere.
Etymology
From Greek kosmikos, related to kosmos ("universe, order").
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “cosmic” mean?
The word “cosmic” means relating to the universe as a whole, especially outer space. In plain terms, to do with the universe, or used loosely to mean "enormous" or "beyond ordinary understanding.".
How do you pronounce “cosmic”?
“Cosmic” is pronounced KOZ-mihk (/ˈkɑz.mɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “cosmic” in a sentence?
Here is “cosmic” used in a sentence: “Cosmic radiation from deep space constantly bombards the Earth's atmosphere.”
What is another word for “cosmic”?
Words with a similar meaning to “cosmic” include universal.
What part of speech is “cosmic”?
“Cosmic” is an adjective.
Where does the word “cosmic” come from?
The word “cosmic” comes from Greek. From Greek kosmikos, related to kosmos ("universe, order").
Is “cosmic” a common word?
“Cosmic” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
How many meanings does “cosmic” have?
“Cosmic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to the universe as a whole, especially outer space.
What is the difference between cosmic and universal?
Cosmic specifically relates to the universe as a whole, especially outer space, while universal more broadly means applying to everyone or everything without necessarily referencing space. Cosmic has a stronger astronomical connotation.
What does cosmic mean when used figuratively?
Used figuratively, cosmic describes something vast in scale, almost beyond comprehension, such as 'cosmic irony' or 'cosmic significance,' even when the subject has nothing to do with outer space.
Is cosmic used mainly in scientific contexts?
Cosmic is used both in scientific contexts, such as cosmic rays or cosmic radiation, and in everyday figurative language to describe something enormous or awe-inspiring in scale.
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