Main Entry: en·vi·ron·ment

Pronunciation: \in-ˈvī-rə(n)-mənt, -ˈvī(-ə)r(n)-\

Function: noun

Date: 1827

1 : the circumstances, objects, or conditions by which one is surrounded
2 a : the complex of physical, chemical, and biotic factors (as climate, soil, and living things) that act upon an organism or an ecological community and ultimately determine its form and survival b : the aggregate of social and cultural conditions that influence the life of an individual or community
3 : the position or characteristic position of a linguistic element in a sequence
4 : a computer interface from which various tasks can be performed <a programming environment>

synonyms see background

— en·vi·ron·men·tal \-ˌvī-rə(n)-ˈmen-t^əl, -ˌvī(-ə)r(n)-\ adjective

— en·vi·ron·men·tal·ly \-t^əl-ē\ adverb