scenery
- 01 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.
Simple“We stopped the car several times to take photos of the mountain scenery.”
In context“The train route through the Highlands offers some of the most spectacular scenery in the country, featuring rugged peaks and deep lochs.”
UsageThis noun is uncountable and always takes a singular verb.
PitfallThe 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.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
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.
Simple“The stage crew worked quickly to change the scenery between the first and second acts.”
In context“The production was praised for its minimalist scenery, which used clever lighting instead of heavy props to suggest different locations.”
UsageOften used as a collective term for the physical environment of a play.
Earlier scenary, from scene + -ary, but now remodelled as scene + -ery.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.