environment
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++en·vi·ron·ment /ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/ ●●● S1 W1 AWL noun 1 the environment SGEthe air, water, and land on Earth, which is affected by man’s activities 自然环境 Some of these chemicals are very damaging to the environment. 这些化学品中有些对环境非常有害。 legislation to protect the environment 保护环境的法规 the effects of acid rain on the environment 酸雨对环境的影响 the government minister for the environment 负责环境事务的政府部长n GrammarYou always say the environment in this meaning: Pollution from cars is bad for the environment. ✗Don’t say: Pollution from cars is bad for environment. →4 See picture on 见图 Page A6 Environmental problems 环境问题 →4 See picture on 见图 Page A7 Environmental solutions 环保方法2 [countable, uncountable]SITUATION the people and things that are around you in your life, for example the buildings you use, the people you live or work with, and the general situation you are in 生活环境，周围状况 The company had failed to provide a safe environment for its workers. 该公司没有为员工提供安全的工作环境。3 [countable] the natural features of a place, for example its weather, the type of land it has, and the type of plants that grow in it 生态环境 → habitat a forest environment 森林环境 a very adaptable creature that will eat different foods in different environments 一种能在不同环境中吃不同食物的适应能力很强的生物 COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 1: verbsprotect the environment 保护环境We need to take drastic steps to protect the environment. 我们要采取严厉措施来保护环境。conserve the environment formal (=protect it and prevent it from changing or being damaged) 保护环境People need to live in harmony with nature and conserve the environment. 人们应该与大自然和谐共存并保护环境。harm/damage the environment 损害/破坏环境The government insists that the dam will not harm the environment. 政府坚称这座水坝不会损害环境。destroy the environment 毁坏环境We need to find ways of producing energy without destroying the environment. 我们需要找到不破坏环境的能源生产方式。pollute the environment 污染环境Nuclear waste will pollute the environment for centuries. 核废物对环境的污染将持续几个世纪。clean up the environment 整治环境It’s about time that we started cleaning up the environment. 我们该整治环境了。adjectivesthe natural environment 自然环境Current methods of farming are damaging the natural environment. 目前的耕作方式对自然环境造成破坏。the marine environment (=the sea and the creatures that live there) 海洋环境nFish farming poses a threat to the marine environment.phrasesbe good/bad for the environment 对环境有益/有害Plastic bags are bad for the environment. 塑料袋对环境有害。be harmful to the environment 对环境有害Emissions from cars are harmful to the environment. 汽车尾气对环境有害。protection of the environment 环境保护In developing countries, protection of the environment is not a primary concern. 在发展中国家，环境保护不是人们主要关注的问题。conservation of the environment 环境保护There are many organizations dedicated to conservation of the environment. 有许多组织致力于环境保护。damage/harm to the environment 对环境的破坏/损害A lot of chemicals used in industry cause harm to the environment. 许多工业用化学品会对环境造成损害。the destruction of the environment 对环境的毁坏Logging has led to the destruction of the natural environment. 采伐树木对自然环境造成了破坏。pollution of the environment 环境污染The waste material must be stored safely to avoid pollution of the environment. 废料必须妥善存放以防污染环境。the effect/impact on the environment 对环境的影响The building’s design will minimize its impact on the environment. 大楼的设计将其对环境的影响减至最小。COMMON ERRORS ► Don’t say ‘hurt the environment’. Say harm the environment or damage the environment. 不要说 ‘hurt the environment’. 而要说 harm the environment 或 damage the environment.n THESAURUSthe environment the air, water, and land on Earth, which is affected by man’s activitiesWe need to do more to protect the environment.How much does air travel damage the environment?ecosystem technical all the animals and plants that exist in a place, considered as a single system with parts that depend on each otherthe island’s fragile ecosystemThe rapid decline in the number of great sharks is disrupting the marine ecosystem.habitat the natural home of an animal or plantThe tree can grow to be 120 feet tall in its natural habitat.the biosphere technical the Earth’s surface and atmosphere where animals and plants can liveScientists are monitoring changes in the global biosphere.ecology the scientific study of the way in which the animals, plants, and natural features of a place affect and depend on each otherShe’s studying marine ecology.green adjective [only before noun] relating to the environment or to protecting the environmentVoters are becoming more concerned about green issues.The party is keen to demonstrate its green credentials (=show that it thinks the environment is important).eco- prefix relating to the environment and protecting the environmenteco-friendly products (=which do not harm the environment)eco-tourism (=which does not harm the environment)eco-warrior (=someone who protests to try to save the environment)eco-sensitive land (=where the environment is easily damaged)n COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: the people and things that are around you in your life, for example the buildings you use, the people you live or work with, and the general situation you are in 生活环境，周围状况ADJECTIVES/NOUN + environmentthe physical environment (=the place where you live or work, including buildings, furniture etc)Improvements to the physical environment range from removing graffiti to planting trees.the immediate environment (=the building in which you live or work, and the area very close to it)Most accidents happen to young children within the immediate environment of their home.a safe environmentThe playground provides a safe environment for children.a stable environment (=without any big changes)They argued that being married helps provide a stable environment for bringing up children.a friendly/pleasant environmentThe restaurant offers a stylish and friendly environment with first-class service.a clean/dirty environmentPeople who live in a very clean environment may have a lower immunity to germs.a competitive environmentOur business has to operate in an increasingly competitive environment.a working/learning environmentMost people prefer a quiet working environment.the home/domestic/family environmentA lot of children suffer because of problems in their home environment.the economic environmentThe economic environment has changed, and many countries are sliding into recession.the business environmentIn today’s fast-moving business environment, companies must be flexible.the political environmentMinisters are having to make these decisions in a difficult political environment.the cultural/social environmentChanges in the cultural environment affect people’s attitudes and values.n COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 3: the natural features of a place, for example its weather, the type of land it has, and the type of plants that grow in it 生态环境adjectivesa coastal/desert/mountain etc environmentThe storm caused significant damage to the coastal environment.an inhospitable/harsh environment (=one where the conditions make life difficult)The freezing climate makes this one of the most inhospitable environments on the planet.a hostile environment (=with many difficulties and dangers)It is difficult to see how anything can survive in such a hostile environment.a fragile environment (=easily damaged or destroyed)Many people are worried about the impact of tourism on the region’s fragile environment.Examples from the Corpus
environment• Almost every newborn encounters an environment that acts toward it in a social way.• Adaptation to a changing environment may be necessary as before to achieve traditional goals.• As a social science, Geography focuses on how people create and use their socio-economic, built and cultural environments.• Remember all those experiments with rats living in enriched environments?• Do girls learn better in an all-female environment?• It's not a very safe environment for children there.• I didn't feel that the neighborhood was a very safe environment for kids.• It is important to emphasize any explanation of the foot soldiers is highly contingent upon the environment in which they are operating.• They wanted control over their environment, including financial, material, and other resources.• Our company tries to maintain a pleasant work environment.• We have tried to create a working environment in which everyone can develop their skills.From Longman Business Dictionaryenvironmenten‧vi‧ron‧ment /ɪnˈvaɪərənmənt-ˈvaɪr-/ noun [countable]1the environment the air, water, and land in which people, animals, and plants liveSince these chemicals were banned, pesticide levels in the environment have been declining.2the general conditions that influence somethingMoving forward in a changing environment is never easy.In the new global business environment the exchange of information is the key to success.The new company will be operating in a competitive environment.The results were in line with what we expected, in spite of the difficult economic environment.Despite the poor retail environment, the company is doing well.3COMPUTING the kind of OPERATING SYSTEM used by a computerthe Windows environmentOrigin environment (1600-1700) environ “to surround” ((14-21 centuries)), from Old French environer, from environ “around”, from viron “circle”en·vi·ron·ment noun →n GRAMMAR1 →COLLOCATIONS1
→n COLLOCATIONS2 →n COLLOCATIONS3 →n THESAURUS1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
→n COLLOCATIONS2 →n COLLOCATIONS3 →n THESAURUS1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
by Business air, and which Earth, the land water, is on Corpus affected
environment
en‧vi‧ron‧ment S1 W1 AC /ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/
noun
Some of these chemicals are very damaging to the environment.
legislation to protect the environment
the effects of acid rain on the environment
the government minister for the environment
2. [uncountable and countable] the people and things that are around you in your life, for example the buildings you use, the people you live or work with, and the general situation you are in:
The company had failed to provide a safe environment for its workers.
3. [countable] the natural features of a place, for example its weather, the type of land it has, and the type of plants that grow in it ⇨ habitat:
a forest environment
a very adaptable creature that will eat different foods in different environments
■ verbs
▪protect the environment We need to take drastic steps to protect the environment.
▪conserve the environment formal (=protect it and prevent it from changing or being damaged) People need to live in harmony with nature and conserve the environment.
▪harm/damage the environment The government insists that the dam will not harm the environment.
▪destroy the environment We need to find ways of producing energy without destroying the environment.
▪pollute the environment Nuclear waste will pollute the environment for centuries.
▪clean up the environment It’s about time that we started cleaning up the environment.
■ adjectives
▪the natural environment Current methods of farming are damaging the natural environment.
▪the marine environment (=the sea and the creatures that live there) Fish farming poses a threat to the marine environment.
■ phrases
▪be good/bad for the environment Plastic bags are bad for the environment.
▪be harmful to the environment Emissions from cars are harmful to the environment.
▪protection of the environment In developing countries, protection of the environment is not a primary concern.
▪conservation of the environment There are many organizations dedicated to conservation of the environment.
▪damage/harm to the environment A lot of chemicals used in industry cause harm to the environment.
▪the destruction of the environment Logging has led to the destruction of the natural environment.
▪pollution of the environment The waste material must be stored safely to avoid pollution of the environment.
▪the effect/impact on the environment The building’s design will minimize its impact on the environment.
■ COMMON ERRORS
► Do not say 'hurt the environment'. Say harm the environment or damage the environment.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + environment
▪the physical environment (=the place where you live or work, including buildings, furniture etc) Improvements to the physical environment range from removing graffiti to planting trees.
▪the immediate environment (=the building in which you live or work, and the area very close to it) Most accidents happen to young children within the immediate environment of their home.
▪a safe environment The playground provides a safe environment for children.
▪a stable environment (=without any big changes) They argued that being married helps provide a stable environment for bringing up children.
▪a friendly/pleasant environment The restaurant offers a stylish and friendly environment with first-class service.
▪a clean/dirty environment People who live in a very clean environment may have a lower immunity to germs.
▪a competitive environment Our business has to operate in an increasingly competitive environment.
▪a working/learning environment Most people prefer a quiet working environment.
▪the home/domestic/family environment A lot of children suffer because of problems in their home environment.
▪the economic environment The economic environment has changed, and many countries are sliding into recession.
▪the business environment In today’s fast-moving business environment, companies must be flexible.
▪the political environment Ministers are having to make these decisions in a difficult political environment.
▪the cultural/social environment Changes in the cultural environment affect people’s attitudes and values.
▪ the environment the air, water, and land on Earth, which is affected by man’s activities: We need to do more to protect the environment. | How much does air travel damage the environment?
▪ecosystem technical all the animals and plants that exist in a place, considered as a single system with parts that depend on each other: the island’s fragile ecosystem | The rapid decline in the number of great sharks is disrupting the marine ecosystem.
▪habitat the natural home of an animal or plant: The tree can grow to be 120 feet tall in its natural habitat.
▪the biosphere technical the Earth’s surface and atmosphere where animals and plants can live: Scientists are monitoring changes in the global biosphere.
▪ecology the scientific study of the way in which the animals, plants, and natural features of a place affect and depend on each other: She’s studying marine ecology.
▪green adjective [only before noun] relating to the environment or to protecting the environment: Voters are becoming more concerned about green issues. | The party is keen to demonstrate its green credentials (=show that it thinks the environment is important).
▪eco- prefix relating to the environment and protecting the environment: eco-friendly products (=which do not harm the environment) | eco-tourism (=which does not harm the environment) | eco-warrior (=someone who protests to try to save the environment) | eco-sensitive land (=where the environment is easily damaged)
■ adjectives
▪a coastal/desert/mountain etc environment The storm caused significant damage to the coastal environment.
▪an inhospitable/harsh environment (=one where the conditions make life difficult) The freezing climate makes this one of the most inhospitable environments on the planet.
▪a hostile environment (=with many difficulties and dangers) It is difficult to see how anything can survive in such a hostile environment.
▪a fragile environment (=easily damaged or destroyed) Many people are worried about the impact of tourism on the region’s fragile environment.
en‧vi‧ron‧ment S1 W1 AC /ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/
noun Date: 1600-1700
Origin: environ 'to surround' (14-21 centuries), from Old French environer, from environ 'around', from viron 'circle'
1. the environment the air, water, and land on Earth, which is affected by man’s activities:Origin: environ 'to surround' (14-21 centuries), from Old French environer, from environ 'around', from viron 'circle'
2. [uncountable and countable] the people and things that are around you in your life, for example the buildings you use, the people you live or work with, and the general situation you are in:
3. [countable] the natural features of a place, for example its weather, the type of land it has, and the type of plants that grow in it ⇨ habitat:
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environment the conditions in a place that affect the behaviour and development of sb/sth 指影响人或事物的行为或发展的环境 ：◆ An unhappy home environment can affect children's behaviour.不幸的家庭环境可能对孩子的行为造成影响。 ◆ a pleasant working environment 令人愉快的工作环境 setting a place or situation of a particular type, in which sth happens or exists 指事物所处的环境或发生的背景 ：◆ The island provided an idyllic setting for the concert. 这岛为音乐会提供了优美的田园布景。 surroundings everything that is around or near sb/sth 指周围的环境 ：◆ The huts blend in perfectly with their surroundings. 这些棚屋与周围的环境浑然一体，非常和谐。 background the things or area behind or around the main objects or people that are in a place or picture 指对主要人物、事物起衬托作用的事物、背景 ：◆ The mountains in the background were capped with snow. 远处的山峦白雪覆盖。
Patterns
in (a/an) environment/setting/surroundings(a/an) new/unfamiliar environment/setting/surroundingssb/sth's immediate environment/surroundings(a) dramatic setting/background
Environmental damage 环境破坏
cause/contribute to climate change/global warming引起气候变化／全球变暖 produce pollution/CO2/greenhouse (gas) emissions产生污染／二氧化碳／温室气体排放 damage/destroy the environment/a marine ecosystem/the ozone layer/coral reefs破坏环境／海洋生态系统／臭氧层／珊瑚礁 degrade ecosystems/habitats/the environment使生态系统／栖息地／环境退化 harm the environment/wildlife/marine life危害环境／野生动物／海洋生物 threaten natural habitats/coastal ecosystems/a species with extinction构成对自然栖息地／沿海生态系统／物种灭绝的威胁 deplete natural resources/the ozone layer大量损耗自然资源／臭氧层 pollute rivers and lakes/waterways/the air/the atmosphere/the environment/oceans污染河流湖泊／航道／空气／大气层／环境／海洋 contaminate groundwater/the soil/food/crops污染地下水／土壤／食物／庄稼 log forests/rainforests/trees采伐森林／热带雨林／树木
Protecting the environment 保护环境
address/combat/tackle the threat/effects/impact of climate change设法解决／防止／应对气候变化带来的威胁／影响／冲击 fight/take action on/reduce/stop global warming对抗／采取行动应对／减缓／阻止全球变暖 limit/curb/control air/water/atmospheric/environmental pollution控制空气／水／大气／环境污染 cut/reduce pollution/greenhouse gas emissions减少污染／温室气体排放 offset carbon/CO2 emissions抵消碳／二氧化碳的排放 reduce (the size of) your carbon footprint减少碳足迹（量） achieve/promote sustainable development实现／促进可持续发展 preserve/conserve biodiversity/natural resources保持生物多样性；保护自然资源 protect endangered species/a coastal ecosystem保护濒危物种／沿海生态系统 prevent/stop soil erosion/overfishing/massive deforestation/damage to ecosystems防止／阻止水土流失／过度捕捞／大面积森林砍伐／对生态系统的破坏 raise awareness of environmental issues增强环境意识 save the planet/the rainforests/an endangered species拯救地球／热带雨林／濒危物种
Energy and resources 能源和资源
conserve/save/consume/waste energy保护／节约／消耗／浪费能源 manage/exploit/be rich in natural resources管理／开发／有丰富的自然资源 dump/dispose of hazardous/toxic/nuclear waste倾倒／处理有害／有毒／核废料 dispose of/throw away litter/( rubbish/especially
BrE ( garbage/especially
NAmE ( trash/sewageNAmE 处理／扔掉垃圾／废物；排放污水 use/be made from recycled/recyclable/biodegradable material使用回收／可回收／可生物降解材料；由回收／可回收／可生物降解材料制成 recycle bottles/packaging/paper/plastic/waste回收瓶子／包装材料／纸／塑料／废品 promote/encourage recycling/sustainable development/the use of renewable energy促进／鼓励回收利用／可持续发展／使用可再生能源 develop/invest in/promote renewable energy研发／投资／推动可再生能源 reduce your dependence/reliance on fossil fuels减少对化石燃料的依赖 get/obtain/generate/produce electricity from wind, solar and wave power/renewable sources利用风、太阳能、潮汐／可再生能源发电 build/develop a (50-megawatt/offshore) wind farm修建一座（50 兆瓦／海上）风力发电站 install/be fitted with/be powered by solar panels安装太阳能板；由太阳能板提供动力