Ambient describes conditions existing or present on all sides, like room air or light, or denotes quiet and relaxation in music.
Ambient descrive condizioni che esistono o sono presenti su tutti i lati, come l'aria o la luce della stanza, o indica pace e relax in musica.
| Word | ambient |
|---|---|
| Date | November 30, 2020 |
| Type | adjective |
| Syllables | AM-bee-unt |
| Etymology | Biologists explore the effects of ambient light on plants; acoustics experts try to control ambient sound; and meteorologists study ambient pressure, air, or temperature. All this can make ambient seem like a technical term, but when it first saw light of day, that all-encompassing adjective was as likely to be used in poetry as in science. John Milton used it in Paradise Lost, and Alexander Pope wrote of a mountain "whose tow'ring summit ambient clouds conceal'd." Both poets and scientists who use ambient owe a debt to the Latin verb ambire, meaning "to go around," the grandparent of our English word. |
| Examples | "These sophisticated spaces are stocked with elements to lure homeowners outdoors: water and fire features; … ambient lighting to set the mood." — Rachel Hutton, The Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota), 21 Oct. 2020 "The fear might go away after a couple of scenes, or even right after a first entrance. 'Sort of like in movies when all ambient noise fades away and everything goes out of focus but the path ahead,' says Leontyne Mbele-Mbong." — Lily Janiak, The San Francisco Chronicle, 22 Oct. 2020 |
| Definition | 1 : existing or present on all sides : encompassing 2 of electronic music : quiet and relaxing with melodies that repeat many times |
Tags: wordoftheday::adjective
Learn with these flashcards. Click next, previous, or up to navigate to more flashcards for this subject.
Next card: Hinterland region inland century geographer german word applied
Previous card: Property equity english interest law financial share legal
Up to card list: Word of the Day