environment
Everything around you
Environment is a multipurpose word, but its meaning always relates to surroundings or conditions.
Without qualification, environment often refers to the complex factors that make life possible on earth, including living things themselves.
A specific environment means the surroundings and factors that have an influence on a person or place: The environment in my office gets increasingly stressful toward the end of the week.
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- biomeMajor ecological community
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
- nicheRecessed wall space
biotic · abiotic · flora · fauna · trophic · keystone · foodweb · population
Uncultivated, uninhabited natural region
- forestTree-dense ecosystem
- wetlandWaterlogged land ecosystem
- grasslandTreeless herb-covered ecosystem
- meadowGrassy field for grazing
woodland · rainforest · tundra · savanna · marsh · vegetation · greenery · landscape
Capable of restoration
- recyclingReprocessing used materials
- compostingDecomposing organic matter deliberately
- eco-friendlyNot harming the environment
- biodegradableAble to decompose naturally
carbon-neutral · zero-waste · sustainable · organic · solar · wind · geothermal · hydroelectric
Maintaining something's condition
- protectionGuarding against harm
- stewardshipResponsible care of entrusted things
- restorationReturning something to condition
- sanctuaryProtected sacred space
reserve · national park · endangered · wildlife refuge · land trust · conservancy · heritage · rewilding
Rising planetary temperatures
- greenhouse gasesEmissions that trap heat
- carbon dioxideRespiration byproduct, photosynthesis fuel
- methaneSimplest alkane fuel
- climate changePlanetary atmospheric transformation
ozone layer · atmospheric · weather patterns · sea level rise · ice caps · deforestation · desertification · extreme weather
Animal life collectively
- speciesFinest taxonomic rank
- mammalsHair-bearing, milk-producing animals
- birdsEgg-laying flying vertebrates
- reptilesCold-blooded scaly vertebrates
amphibians · insects · predators · prey · migration · nesting · breeding · carnivores
Circumstances shaping meaning
- atmosphereGaseous layer around planets
- milieuSocial or cultural surroundings
- conditionsPrevailing state of affairs
- circumstancesConditions affecting an event
backdrop · ambiance · locale · situation · workspace · workplace · classroom · office
Introduction of impurities
- emissionsSubstances released into air
- smogSunlight-activated urban pollution
- toxinsHarmful biological substances
- wasteUnwanted discarded material
runoff · effluent · pollutants · hazardous · degradation · oil spill · plastic · microplastics
ecosystem
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- biomeMajor ecological community
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
niche · biotic · abiotic · flora · fauna · trophic · keystone · foodweb · population · community
wilderness
Uncultivated, uninhabited natural region
meadow · woodland · rainforest · tundra · savanna · marsh · vegetation · greenery · landscape · terrain
renewable
Capable of restoration
- recyclingReprocessing used materials
- compostingDecomposing organic matter deliberately
- eco-friendlyNot harming the environment
biodegradable · carbon-neutral · zero-waste · sustainable · organic · solar · wind · geothermal · hydroelectric · permaculture
preservation
Maintaining something's condition
- protectionGuarding against harm
- stewardshipResponsible care of entrusted things
- restorationReturning something to condition
sanctuary · reserve · national park · endangered · wildlife refuge · land trust · conservancy · heritage · rewilding · habitat protection
global warming
Rising planetary temperatures
- greenhouse gasesEmissions that trap heat
- carbon dioxideRespiration byproduct, photosynthesis fuel
- methaneSimplest alkane fuel
climate change · ozone layer · atmospheric · weather patterns · sea level rise · ice caps · deforestation · desertification · extreme weather · temperature
fauna
Animal life collectively
- speciesFinest taxonomic rank
- mammalsHair-bearing, milk-producing animals
- birdsEgg-laying flying vertebrates
reptiles · amphibians · insects · predators · prey · migration · nesting · breeding · carnivores · herbivores
context
Circumstances shaping meaning
- atmosphereGaseous layer around planets
- milieuSocial or cultural surroundings
- conditionsPrevailing state of affairs
circumstances · backdrop · ambiance · locale · situation · workspace · workplace · classroom · office · home
contamination
Introduction of impurities
- emissionsSubstances released into air
- smogSunlight-activated urban pollution
- toxinsHarmful biological substances
waste · runoff · effluent · pollutants · hazardous · degradation · oil spill · plastic · microplastics · acid rain
- placescity, town, village, hamlet, building
- topicsnature, health, sports, science, politics
- Worldearth, globe, planet, continents, continent
- ecologyhabitat, ecosystem, balance, niche, food webs
- natural sciencesbiology, ecology, botany, zoology, geology
- contextbackground, setting, circumstances, situation, framework
environmentorganism
Living biological entity
individual · self · creature · being · subject
environmenttechnology
Applied scientific methods
industry · civilization · machinery · urbanization · artifice
- classroom environmentConditions within teaching spaces
- environmental sustainabilityMaintaining natural systems indefinitely
- environmental standardsRules governing ecological impact
- environmental challengesProblems harming natural systems
- work environmentJob setting and conditions
- environmental engineerDesigns pollution control systems
environmental, environments, environmentalist, environmentalism, environmentalists, environmentally, built environment, environmental science, environmental law