ENGLISH
REFERENCE

scenery

n.
US //ˈsinɝi// UK //sˈiːnəɹi// scenery
  1. 1 natural landscape (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the natural things you see around you in the countryside, like mountains, trees, and rivers.

    the appearance of a natural environment or landscape, especially when considered for its aesthetic beauty.

    Example

    We stopped the car several times to take photos of the mountain scenery.

    Example

    The train route through the Highlands offers some of the most spectacular scenery in the country, featuring rugged peaks and deep lochs.

    Usage

    This noun is uncountable and always takes a singular verb.

    Pitfall
    The sceneries in the Alps were beautiful.
    The scenery in the Alps was beautiful.

    Scenery is an uncountable noun and does not have a plural form.

  2. 2 theatre backdrops (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Theatre

    the painted backgrounds and large objects used on a stage for a play or film.

    the painted backgrounds, hangings, and physical structures used on a stage to represent the setting of a scene.

    Example

    The stage crew worked quickly to change the scenery between the first and second acts.

    Example

    The production was praised for its minimalist scenery, which used clever lighting instead of heavy props to suggest different locations.

    Usage

    Often used as a collective term for the physical environment of a play.

Origin

Earlier scenary, from scene + -ary, but now remodelled as scene + -ery.

Idioms2 entries

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