ENGLISH
REFERENCE

ambient

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˈæmbiənt// UK //ˈæmbiənt// am·bi·ent

adj. relating to the general environment or the things that are already around you. It often describes things like the temperature of a room or the background music in a shop.

adj. relating to the immediate surroundings or background environment. Often describes environmental conditions or non-intrusive background media.


SIMPLE

The ambient light in the room is very soft.

CONTEXTUAL

The restaurant plays low ambient music so that customers can still hear their own conversations.

COMPLEX

The sensors are designed to adjust the screen brightness based on the level of ambient light in the office, reducing eye strain for employees.

Origin

From Latin ambiēns (“going around”), from ambiō (“go around”).

Usage

Typically placed before the noun it modifies; frequently collocates with 'light', 'noise', 'temperature', or 'music'.

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