cha ‧ os /ˈkeɪ-ɒs $ -ɑːs/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: Greek ]
1 . a situation in which everything is happening in a confused way and nothing is organized or arranged in order:
The country was plunged into economic chaos.
complete/utter/absolute etc chaos
There was total chaos on the roads.
in chaos
The kitchen was in chaos.
2 . the state of the universe before there was any order
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ cause/create/bring chaos
Snow has caused chaos on the roads this morning.
▪ end in chaos
The game ended in chaos with thunder and heavy rain.
▪ be thrown/plunged into chaos
A serious accident has thrown the roads into chaos.
▪ descend/slip into chaos (=gradually become completely confused and disorganized)
After the invasion, the country lapsed into chaos.
▪ be on the brink of chaos (=to be about to become completely confused and disorganized)
The peace talks were on the brink of chaos.
▪ chaos ensues (=it happens as a result of something)
A decade of civil war and chaos ensued.
▪ chaos reigns (=it happens)
Everyone was trying to talk at once and for a while chaos reigned.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + chaos
▪ total/complete chaos
When we arrived, there was total chaos.
▪ utter chaos (=total chaos)
After the party, the whole house was in utter chaos.
▪ economic/political/social etc chaos
Afterwards there was widespread famine and economic chaos.
▪ traffic chaos (=when there are a lot of vehicles on the roads and they cannot move)
The first day of the school holidays brought traffic chaos to the roads.
■ phrases
▪ a state of chaos
Nick's bedroom is permanently in a state of chaos.
▪ a scene of chaos
I came home to a scene of chaos, with food and empty bottles everywhere.
▪ chaos and confusion
Heavy flooding has created chaos and confusion throughout the country.