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Definition of chasm noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

chasm

noun
 
/ˈkæzəm/
 
/ˈkæzəm/
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  1. [countable] (literary) a deep opening or break in the ground
    • Suddenly a huge chasm opened in the earth.
    • The ground dropped away into an awesome chasm.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • deep
    • gaping
    • great
    • …
    chasm + verb
    • open
    • open up
    See full entry
  2. [singular] chasm (between A and B) (formal) a very big difference between two people or groups, for example because they have different attitudes synonym gulf
    • the yawning chasm of the generation gap
    Extra Examples
    • A chasm separates my generation from my parents'.
    • a huge chasm of hate and prejudice
    • an attempt to bridge the chasm between the two cultures
    • the chasm between rich and poor
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • great
    • growing
    • huge
    • …
    verb + chasm
    • bridge
    • cross
    • create
    • …
    chasm + verb
    • separate something
    preposition
    • chasm between
    • chasm of
    See full entry
    3. Word Originlate 16th cent. (denoting an opening up of the sea or land, as in an earthquake): from Latin chasma, from Greek khasma ‘gaping hollow’.
See chasm in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Check pronunciation: chasm

Nearby words

perspective
noun
 
 
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