butterfly effect

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butterfly effect

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.

[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.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

butterfly effect

(General Physics) the idea, used in chaos theory, that a very small difference in the initial state of a physical system can make a significant difference to the state at some later time

[C20: from the theory that a butterfly flapping its wings in one part of the world might ultimately cause a hurricane in another part of the world]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

but′terfly effect`

a cumulatively large effect that a very small natural force may produce over a period of time.

[1980–85; so called from the notion that the fluttering of a butterfly's wings may set off currents that will grow into a large storm]

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Noun

butterfly effect - the phenomenon whereby a small change at one place in a complex system can have large effects elsewhere, e.g., a butterfly flapping its wings in Rio de Janeiro might change the weather in Chicago

consequence, effect, result, upshot, outcome, event, issue - a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon; "the magnetic effect was greater when the rod was lengthwise"; "his decision had depressing consequences for business"; "he acted very wise after the event"

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References in periodicals archive ?

The sensitive dependence on initial conditions of nonlinear dynamics is not really the same thing as the "important influences ...

Path Dependence and Creation

Written by a meteorologist who first discovered what later was termed "chaos." Looking at chaotic systems from a unique and creative perspective, Lorenz draws out the meaning of such characteristics of chaotic systems as sensitive dependence on initial conditions, strange attractors, aperiodicity and stability/instability.

Nonlinear systems theory in medical care management. (Competing On the Edge)

In general, Levy flights arise out of chaotic systems, in which a sensitive dependence on initial conditions plays a crucial role.

Trails of the wandering albatross

In current usage, a system is chaotic if it has sensitive dependence on initial conditions. Associated with this sensitive dependence is a geometric growth in small differences with time.