In order to clarify terminology, [[George Ellis]], U. Kirchner and W. R. Stoeger recommend using the term "the Universe" for the theoretical model of the whole of the causally [[topology|connected]] [[spacetime]] in which we live, '''universe domain''' for the observable universe or a similar part of the same space-time, "universe" for a general space-time, either our own "Universe" or another one disconnected from our own, '''multiverse''' for a [[set]] of disconnected space-times, and '''multi-domain universe''' to refer to a model of the whole of a single connected space-time in the sense of [[chaotic inflation]] models. | In order to clarify terminology, [[George Ellis]], U. Kirchner and W. R. Stoeger recommend using the term "the Universe" for the theoretical model of the whole of the causally [[topology|connected]] [[spacetime]] in which we live, '''universe domain''' for the observable universe or a similar part of the same space-time, "universe" for a general space-time, either our own "Universe" or another one disconnected from our own, '''multiverse''' for a [[set]] of disconnected space-times, and '''multi-domain universe''' to refer to a model of the whole of a single connected space-time in the sense of [[chaotic inflation]] models. |