Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

chiasm

/ˈkaɪ.æzəm/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 1.68 in modern English

Syllables: chi-asm
IPA: /ˈkaɪ.æzəm/

13

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Alternative form of chiasma.

noun

Alternative form of chiasmus.

Etymology

Latin; in sense 1, from chiasma, from Ancient Greek χίασμα (khiasma); in sense 2, from chiasmus, from Ancient Greek χιασμός (khiasmos "crossing, diagonal arrangement"), from χιάζειν (khiázein, “to mark with a chi”), from χ (kh, “chi”)

Inflected Forms

chiasms (plural)

Derived Forms

heterochiasmy

Phrases

optic chiasm

Synonyms

chiasma decussation

Questions

How do you pronounce chiasm?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈkaɪ.æzəm/.
What does chiasm mean?: Alternative form of chiasma.
Where does chiasm come from?: Latin; in sense 1, from chiasma, from Ancient Greek χίασμα (khiasma); in sense 2, from chiasmus, from Ancient Greek χιασμός (khiasmos "crossing, diagonal arrangement"), from χιάζειν (khiázein, “to mark with a chi”), from χ (kh, “chi”)

How to pronounce chiasm

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