environment

en-vi-ron-ment · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    The natural world, including all living things, the landscape, and natural resources.

  2. 2.

    The surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives.

  3. 3.

    The setting or context for a particular activity.

  4. 4.

    (Computing) The hardware and software context for operation.

Forms

plural: environments

Related words

See also: ecology, nature, surroundings
Synonyms: habitat, milieu, setting, surroundings

Etymology

From French environnement, from environner meaning "to surround," from environ meaning "around," composed of en meaning "in" and viron meaning "circle." The word entered English in the early 17th century.