Definition of environment
1 : the circumstances, objects, or conditions by which one is surrounded
2a : the complex of physical, chemical, and biotic factors (such as climate, soil, and living things) that act upon an organism or an ecological community and ultimately determine its form and survivalb : 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
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Examples of environment in a Sentence
He grew up in a loving environment.
We're trying to create a better business environment.
These animals were raised in a controlled environment.
Many plants are unable to survive in such a harsh environment.
Heredity and environment are both important.
Pollution is bad for the environment.
Recent Examples of environment from the Web
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At the end of each arm are mirrors hanging by glass threads, isolated from the bumps and shrieks of the environment better than any Rolls-Royce ever conceived.
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Companies in industrial sectors, which accounted for the bulk of borrowing, are navigating a treacherous environment.
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The site is intended for groups who want a rental home environment with hotel-level service.
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Through research done partly at Texas A&M University, scientists have completed two gene DNA sequences in a tick that can live in the nostrils of chimpanzees as well as humans who come in contact with the chimps' environment.
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One of the reasons that Western, white parents of today remember an easier admissions environment at the top schools is that in their era, the schools held a dismissive attitude toward Asian students.
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Going to a Web site will mean entering a virtual-reality environment, either by yourself or with others.
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The common key to the success of these projects is creating an environment where how a customer feels is even more important than what he is served.
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Arsenic-contaminated environments have also caused sickness and death among horses, cows, goats, pigs, deer, fishes, and bees, but arsenical sprays and dusts are still widely applied.
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Meanings of environment
Descending from the Middle French preposition environ “around,” environment , in its most basic meaning, is “that which surrounds.” When preceded by the and unmodified, it usually refers to the natural world (“please don’t litter if you care about the environment”). In a less physical, more extended sense, it may signify the circumstances and conditions that make up everyday life (“He grew up in a loving environment.”) The word may also be applied in highly specialized ways, denoting, for example, “the position of a linguistic element” (“how g gets pronounced in Italian depends upon its phonetic environment”) or “a computer interface from which various tasks can be performed” (“the app works in varied environments").
1827
First Known Use of environment
1827
Synonym Discussion of environment
Other Ecology Terms
ENVIRONMENT Defined for English Language Learners
environment
playDefinition of environment for English Language Learners
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: the conditions that surround someone or something : the conditions and influences that affect the growth, health, progress, etc., of someone or something
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the environment : the natural world
ENVIRONMENT Defined for Kids
environment
playDefinition of environment for Students
1 : a person's physical surroundings He lives in a comfortable rural environment.
2 : the surrounding conditions or forces (as soil, climate, and living things) that influence a plant's or animal's characteristics and ability to survive
3 : the social and cultural conditions that affect the life of a person or community a happy home environment
Medical Dictionary
Medical Definition of environment
1: 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
2: the aggregate of social and cultural conditions that influence the life of an individual or community
Learn More about environment
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for environment Spanish Central: Translation of environment Nglish: Translation of environment for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of environment for Arabic speakers
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