Butterfly Effect Definition
bŭtər-flī
noun
A phenomenon in which a small perturbation in the initial condition of a system results in large changes in later conditions. Such phenomena are common in complex dynamical systems and are studied in chaos theory.
American Heritage
Other Word Forms of Butterfly Effect
Noun
Singular:
butterfly effect
Plural:
butterfly-effectsOrigin of Butterfly Effect
From the idea that the tiny atmospheric changes caused by the flap of a butterfly's wings can ultimately have major effects on the course of the weather
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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