emergent
- 01 C1 Advanced
adj.starting to exist or becoming known for the first time.
adj.in the process of coming into being or becoming prominent; nascent.
Simple“The government is watching the emergent markets in Southeast Asia very closely.”
In context“The report highlights emergent trends in consumer behaviour that suggest a shift toward sustainable luxury goods.”
UsageCommonly used in business and sociology to describe new patterns or markets.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C2 Proficiency
adj.describing a quality that a whole group has, which the individual parts do not have on their own.
adj.relating to properties of a system that arise from the interaction of its parts but are not present in the parts themselves.
Simple“The way a flock of birds moves together is an emergent behaviour.”
In context“Consciousness is often described by neuroscientists as an emergent property of the brain's complex neural networks.”
UsageFrequently used in philosophy, biology, and computer science.
Synonymscollectivesynergistic - 03 C2 Proficiency
adj.describing plants that grow taller than the trees around them or above the surface of the water.
adj.rising above the surrounding vegetation or the surface of a body of water.
Simple“The emergent trees in the rainforest can reach heights of sixty metres.”
In context“We studied emergent aquatic plants that provide essential nesting sites for local bird species.”
UsageUsed specifically in ecology to describe the highest layer of a forest or water plants.
SynonymsAntonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
n.a plant that has its roots under the water but its leaves and flowers above the water.
n.a plant whose root system is typically submerged while its upper parts extend above the water's surface.
Simple“The pond was filled with lilies and other emergents.”
In context“The restoration project focused on reintroducing native emergents to stabilize the riverbank and improve water quality.”
“Venice Immersive’s 10th birthday marks a milestone for an event which aims to provide a bridge between emergent technology and traditional narrative cinema.”
“However, he said there had been no referrals refused since before June and that Oberstown can negotiate with the department to temporarily increase its licence when there is an emergent need.”
From Latin ēmergēns, present participle of ēmergō. The medical sense is a back-formation from emergency.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.