Noun: entropy en-tru-pee
- (thermodynamics) a thermodynamic quantity representing the amount of energy in a system that is no longer available for doing mechanical work
"entropy increases as matter and energy in the universe degrade to an ultimate state of inert uniformity";
- randomness, S
- (information theory) a measure of the average amount of information contained in a message or the uncertainty in a data source, typically measured in bits
"The entropy of the signal increased with more noise";
- information
- A tendency toward disorder, deterioration, or chaos in any system
"The entropy of the abandoned building increased as nature took over"
Derived forms: entropies
Type of: information measure, physical property
Encyclopedia: Entropy