chasm

Etymology

From Latin chasma, from Ancient Greek χάσμα (khásma, “abyss, cleft”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈkæzəm/

• Audio (General American):

  (file)

• (General American, uncommon, spelling pronunciation) IPA^(key): /t͡ʃæzəm/
• Rhymes: -æzəm

Noun

chasm (plural chasms)

1. (geology, planetology) A deep, steep-sided rift, gap or fissure; a gorge or abyss.
   • 2019, Li Huang, James Lambert, “Another Arrow for the Quiver: A New Methodology for Multilingual Researchers”, in Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, →DOI, page 1:

     But always and ever there is a yawning chasm below[.]

2. (by extension) A large difference of opinion.
   • 2025 February 10, Phil McNulty, “Manchester City 6-0 Chelsea”, in BBC Sport‎:

     Chelsea may not have regarded themselves as title rivals to City over the whole season but this was a harrowing illustration of the current chasm between the two sides and made for disturbing viewing for the Italian.

References

• chasm (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• rift on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Anagrams

• CAMHS, HMACs, cha'ms, chams