In physics, a measure of disorder or randomness in a system. More generally, it can mean the natural tendency of things to move from order to disorder over time.
From Greek *entropia* ('a turning toward'), from *en-* ('in') + *trope* ('turning, change'). It was adopted in thermodynamics in the 19th century as a technical term.
Entropy is why ice melts, why rooms get messy, and why batteries die—order quietly slides into disorder unless energy is added. Life itself is a local battle against entropy, building pockets of order in a universe that prefers chaos.
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