1
general::
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 )
Longman-Thesaurus