schrödinger's cat
/ˌʃɹoʊdɪŋɚz ˈkæt/
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.01 in modern English
Meaning
noun
A hypothetical cat that is depicted as being surrounded by perfectly uncertain circumstances that make an external observer absolutely unable to deem the cat either alive or dead, especially if the possibilities of survival of the cat are expected to be analysed from the point of view of quantum mechanics. Typically, these circumstances involve the cat being inside a box while being the victim of a danger that may or may not kill it, such as radiation.
noun
Any hypothetical situation whose circumstances make it impossible to see which among two contrary propositions is correct, especially if the situation is expected to be analysed from the point of view of quantum mechanics.
name
The thought experiment which was devised by Erwin Schrödinger, is usually considered a paradox, involves a Schrödinger's cat and is typically supposed to be analysed from the point of view of quantum mechanics.
name
A Schrödinger's cat (a hypothetical cat that may or may not be dead) in particular, especially when implied to be the only Schrödinger's cat in the world.
Example Sentences
- "A cat like yours is a Schrödinger's cat, sealed up in an office where someone's disintegration provides a 50-50 chance of its death."
- "To see how, let us consider a nested system of Schrödinger's cats."
- "Schrödinger's cat is necessarily alive or dead."
- "And you thought Schrödinger's cat was schizophrenic, unsure about life and death."
- "Let us return to the laboratory, where Bob is about to lift the tarp off of the transparent box containing Schrödinger's cat."
Etymology
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˌʃɹoʊdɪŋɚz ˈkæt/
- British English: /ˌʃɹəʊdɪŋəz ˈkæt/