universe
- Top 3000
Sense 1
- noun
- B1
All of space taken together with every star, planet and galaxy that exists in it.
Scientists believe the universe began about fourteen billion years ago.
Nobody knows whether life exists anywhere else in the universe.
Our teacher explained that the universe is still growing larger.
Compared with the universe, our whole galaxy is a tiny speck.
Common collocations: the whole universe · the origin of the universe · elsewhere in the universe · the expanding universe · the observable universe
Part of: Space, Science and technology
Sense 2 · less common
- noun
- C1
All the people, places and things that belong to one story, activity or way of life.
Fans know every detail of the universe these novels created.
In the universe of that series, machines rule the cities.
Her work is her entire universe; nothing else seems to matter.
Common collocations: a fictional universe · a parallel universe · in the universe of · someone's whole universe
Part of: Film and television, Books and reading