abyss

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Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /əˈbɪs/
• (America) IPA: /əˈbɪs/, /æˈbɪs/, enPR: ə-bĭs'

Noun

abyss (plural abysses)

1. Hell; the bottomless pit; primeval chaos; a confined subterranean ocean. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]
2. (frequently, figurative) A bottomless or unfathomed depth, gulf, or chasm; hence, any deep, immeasurable; any void space. [First attested in the late 16^th century.]
3. Anything infinite, immeasurable, or profound. [First attested in the late 16^th century.]
4. Moral depravity; vast intellectual or moral depth.
5. An impending catastrophic happening.
6. (heraldry) The center of an escutcheon.
7. (oceanography) The abyssal zone.
8. (figurative) A difference, especially a large difference, between groups.

Synonyms

• (difference) gulf

Related terms

• abysmal

Translations

• French: abîme
• German: Abgrund, Hölle
• Russian: про́пасть
• Spanish: abismo

Translations

• French: précipice, abysse, abîme, gouffre
• German: Abgrund
• Italian: abisso
• Portuguese: abismo
• Russian: бе́здна
• Spanish: abismo, sima

Translations

• French: abîme
• Russian: про́рва

Translations

• German: Abgrund
• Italian: abisso
• Portuguese: abismo
• Russian: бе́здна

Translations

• French: abîme

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