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Elementary Dictionary
       

en·vi·ron·ment

environment

 
 
pronunciation:
ihn vaI rn mnt [or] ihn vaI rn mnt
features:
Word Builder, Word Explorer
part of speech: noun
definition 1: The environment of something is everything that exists around it. Your environment is everything that is around you in a place. The objects in a room, the amount of light, and the temperature are some things that make up the environment of a room. The environment of a place affects how you feel.
The teacher created an exciting environment for learning by having many puzzles, games, books, and art materials in her classroom.Han's father left his job because the work environment became unpleasant after a new manager was hired.
synonyms:
setting
similar words:
atmosphere, background, circumstances, climate, element, medium, situation
definition 2: The environment of a living thing is everything around it in the place where it lives or grows. It is everything in that place that affects how it develops and stays alive.
Certain plants, like cactuses, can only be found naturally in hot and dry environments.Many tropical birds are the happiest in the environment of a rainforest.Certain things have to be part of an animal's environment for it to survive--things such as water for drinking and certain plants or animals for food.
synonyms:
habitat
similar words:
medium
definition 3: When we talk about the environment, we often mean the natural things around all of us as we live on our planet Earth. The environment is made up of things like the air, the water, the plants, and the soil. We know now that we have to protect the environment. Things like pollution cause damage to it and cause harm to animals and humans.
My family is helping to take care of the environment by recycling paper. If we recycle paper, we won't have to cut down so many trees.
derivations: environmental (adj.), environmentally (adv.)
Word Builder: environment +
  • environmental:
    having to do with the environment.
  • environmentally:
    in a way that affects the environment.
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