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Who warned of the harmful effects of pesticides on the environment in the 1962 book Silent Spring?

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environment

American  

[en-vahy-ruhn-muhnt, -vahy-ern-] / ɛnˈvaɪ rən mənt, -ˈvaɪ ərn- /

noun

• environments
  plural

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.

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environment British  

/ 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

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environment Scientific  

/ ĕn-vī′rən-mənt /

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.

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Synonym Usage

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. ).

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• environmental
  adjective
• environmentally
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• environments
  plural

Etymology

Origin of environment

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

Explanation

Think of the environment as everything that is around you. A quiet room with good lighting and no distractions is a good environment for doing homework, or at least that's what your parents and teachers think. Environment generally refers to your surroundings. If something is good for the environment, it is beneficial to the complex system of plant and animal life, water and air on Earth. An environment need not be so large, however. The environment of your living room means the tables, chairs and decor that are in the room. Sometimes it refers to the general attitude of a place. Do you thrive in a competitive environment or prefer an atmosphere of cooperation?

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

environment environments

"They may have lived in large groups, where males competed for mates, but also tolerated each other at times for safety in a dangerous environment."

From Science Daily ● Aug. 30, 2026

“But it’s going to be cool going back to see everything, and I like that environment and atmosphere over there because they have great fans over there as well.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026

“This is not going to dampen our dedication to building an environment where people can have fun,” he says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

Forensic investigations had since revealed further data leaks within Berlin's transport and environment department, officials said.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

Their skin changes color in response to their emotions, or shifts in their environment like light, temperature, or humidity.

From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste

The finding offers a new window into the Red Planet's geologic history, including periods when Mars may have had environments capable of supporting life.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 30, 2026

"The sudden glacial collapse and flash flood is a devastating reminder of how fragile these mountain environments can be," UN climate chief Simon Steill said in a statement.

From Barron's ● Aug. 30, 2026

The montage, with no commentary or explanatory captions, showed off improved graphics, detailed environments and a selection of car-chases and shoot-outs from the sequel.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

Geological reconstructions indicate that the sediments containing the fossils formed in near-shore, shallow-water delta coastal environments.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 27, 2026

Was it because prisons are full of nasty people, or was it because prisons are such nasty environments that they make people nasty?

From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

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