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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Environment: Definition, Usage & Key Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：surroundings (environment)

environment 🔊

/ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/

The physical place where someone lives or works, and all the things and conditions around them.

Environment illustration showing a positive and collaborative modern office workspace setting.

surroundings 🔊

➕

/səˈraʊndɪŋz/

The physical setting and conditions in a specific place, such as where one lives, works, or learns.

📁 Category：Buildings & Places 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From 'en-' (in) + Old French 'viron' (circle) + '-ment' (noun suffix). Meaning 'that which surrounds'.

💡 Mnemonic

Envision (en-) a circle (viron) of things (-ment) around you.

📖 Example

She finds it easier to concentrate in a quiet, clean working environment. 🔊 She finds it easier to concentrate in a quiet, clean working surroundings.

🔗 Collocations

working environment – the physical and social conditions of a workplace

learning environment – the setting and atmosphere created for education

home environment – the conditions and atmosphere within one's home

🔄 Synonyms

setting (n.) – The place and conditions in which something happens or exists.

atmosphere (n.) – The mood or feeling of a particular place or situation.

milieu (n.) – A person's social environment or surroundings.

🚫 Antonyms

void (n.) – A completely empty space; the absence of surroundings.

vacuum (n.) – A space entirely devoid of matter or surrounding influences.

🌱 Derivatives

environmental (adj.) – Relating to the natural world, or to the surroundings of a place.

environmentally (adv.) – In a way that relates to the environment.

📖 Cultural Story

The word entered English via French 'environner' (to surround). Its modern ecological sense emerged strongly in the mid-20th century with the rise of environmentalism, shifting focus from one's immediate surroundings to the global natural world.

Meaning 2：nature (environment)

environment 🔊

/ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/

The natural world, including all the air, water, land, plants, and animals, especially as affected by human activity.

Natural environment diagram depicting a lush forest ecosystem with wildlife and a stream.

nature 🔊

➕

/ˈneɪtʃər/

The natural world of land, sea, air, plants, and animals, especially considered as a system affected by human activity.

📁 Category：Natural Geography 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

We all have a responsibility to protect the environment for future generations. 🔊 We all have a responsibility to protect nature for future generations.

🔗 Collocations

protect the environment – to take action to prevent harm to the natural world

environmental protection – the practice of safeguarding the natural world

natural environment – the physical world not created or significantly altered by people

🔄 Synonyms

ecosystem (n.) – A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

habitat (n.) – The natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism.

biosphere (n.) – The parts of the Earth where life exists; the global ecological system.

🚫 Antonyms

pollution (n.) – The presence of harmful substances in the environment.

🌱 Derivatives

environmentalist (n.) – A person who is concerned with or advocates for the protection of the environment.