cosmos
Americannoun
plural
cosmos, cosmoses-
the world or universe regarded as an orderly, harmonious system.
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a complete, orderly, harmonious system.
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order; harmony.
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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.
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(initial capital letter) Also Kosmos. one of a long series of Soviet satellites that have been launched into orbit around the earth.
noun
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astronautics any of various types of Soviet satellite, including Cosmos 1 (launched 1962) and nearly 2000 subsequent satellites
noun
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the world or universe considered as an ordered system
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any ordered system
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harmony; order
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any tropical American plant of the genus Cosmos, cultivated as garden plants for their brightly coloured flowers: family Asteraceae (composites)
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The universe, especially when considered as an orderly and harmonious whole.
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Dr Stephen Grimes, from the university's school of geography, earth and environment said: "This project will transform mundane rooftops and gutters all around Plymouth into portals to the cosmos."
From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026
The same situation applies across much of the cosmos.
From Science Daily • Mar. 10, 2026
With a wave of her wand and a few magic words, Evie disappears under the snow-covered ground outside her family’s home and is transported to a stunning underwater cosmos.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026
During an early walk-through for a few dozen invited guests, Tillmans held forth on his personal cosmos, surveying pictures from the experimental to the deeply intimate.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2026
In Pachakuti’s grand design, Awkaypata was the center of the empire—and the cosmos.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.