Definitions for: Entropy


[n] (communication theory) a numerical measure of the uncertainty of an outcome; "the signal contained thousands of bits of information"
[n] (thermodynamics) a measure of the amount of energy in a system that is no longer available for doing work; entropy increases as matter and energy in the universe degrade to an ultimate state of inert uniformity



Webster (1913) Definition: En"tro*py, n. [Gr. ? a turning in; ? in + ? a turn,
fr. ? to turn.] (Thermodynamics)
A certain property of a body, expressed as a measurable
quantity, such that when there is no communication of heat
the quantity remains constant, but when heat enters or leaves
the body the quantity increases or diminishes. If a small
amount, h, of heat enters the body when its temperature is t
in the thermodynamic scale the entropy of the body is
increased by h ? t. The entropy is regarded as measured from
some standard temperature and pressure. Sometimes called the
thermodynamic function.

The entropy of the universe tends towards a maximum.
--Clausius.


H(M) = -log2 p(M)

Synonyms: information, selective information

Antonyms: ectropy

See Also: conformational entropy, information measure, physical phenomenon

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