environment

[en-vahy-ruhn-muhnt, -vahy-ern-]

noun

1. the aggregate of surrounding things, conditions, or influences; surroundings; milieu.

   Synonyms: environs, locale

2. Ecology.,  the air, water, minerals, organisms, and all other external factors surrounding and affecting a given organism at any time.

3. the social and cultural forces that shape the life of a person or a population.

4. Computers.,  the hardware or software configuration, or the mode of operation, of a computer system.

   In a time-sharing environment, transactions are processed as they occur.

5. an indoor or outdoor setting characterized by the presence of environmental art that is designed specifically to make use of that site.

environment

/ ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt /

noun

1. external conditions or surroundings, esp those in which people live or work

2. ecology the external surroundings in which a plant or animal lives, which tend to influence its development and behaviour

3. the state of being environed; encirclement

4. computing an operating system, program, or integrated suite of programs that provides all the facilities necessary for a particular application

   a word-processing environment

environment

1. All of the biotic and abiotic factors that act on an organism, population, or ecological community and influence its survival and development. Biotic factors include the organisms themselves, their food, and their interactions. Abiotic factors include such items as sunlight, soil, air, water, climate, and pollution. Organisms respond to changes in their environment by evolutionary adaptations in form and behavior.

Other Word Forms

• environmental adjective
• environmentally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of environment¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Middle French environnement; environ, -ment

Synonym Study

Environment, milieu, ambiance, setting, surroundings all refer to what makes up the atmosphere or background against which someone or something is seen. Environment may refer either to actual physical surroundings or to social or cultural background factors: an environment of crime and grinding poverty. Milieu, encountered most often in literary writing, refers to intangible aspects of the environment: an exhilarating milieu of artistic ferment and innovation. Ambiance applies to the atmosphere of the surroundings, their mood or tone: an ambiance of ease and elegance. Setting suggests a background that sets something off: a perfect setting for the emerald. Surroundings alludes specifically to the physical aspects of the environment: awoke in strange surroundings; blend in with her surroundings. See ecosystem ( def. ).

Example Sentences

His cases focus on the gaps between finite means and what seem like infinite ends of a hostile environment.

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“I think the environment is generally pretty darn good,” he said.

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The environment fosters radical self love and celebrates individuality.

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Even without the heightened risk created by these “de-escalation” tactics, protests are risky environments.

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Instead of living on the mountain, “I wanted the community environment with a ton of year-round amenities,” he says.

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Related Words

• climate 
• habitat 
• mise en scène 
• setting 
• situation 
• status 
• surroundings