Emily Dickinson Lexicon

universe (-'s), n. [Fr. < L. ūnus + versus, one whole turn, or revolution.] (webplay: create, earth, heaven, heavenly, heavens, thing, things).

1. Whole of creation; everything that exists in the physical world.
2. Nature.
3. Every inhabitant of the whole of creation.
4. Infinitely immense object; a thing as large as the whole of creation.
5. [Fig.] all knowledge; store of knowledge as large as the whole of creation.
6. [Fig.] group of creatures as numerous as all the inhabitants of the whole of creation.
7. [Fig.] entirety; whole huge being.
8. [Fig.] heaven; firmament.
9. [Fig.] supreme being; deity; God.