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ambiance

 - 2 dictionary results

am⋅bi⋅ance

[am-bee-uhns; Fr. ahn-byahns]
–noun, plural -bi⋅anc⋅es [-bee-uhn-siz; Fr. -byahns] .
1. the mood, character, quality, tone, atmosphere, etc., particularly of an environment or milieu: The restaurant had a delightful ambiance.
2. that which surrounds or encompasses; environment.
Also, ambience.


Origin:
< F, equiv. to ambi(ant) surrounding (MF, also ambient < L; see ambient ) + -ance -ance


1. See environment.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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am·bi·ance also am·bi·ence   (ām'bē-əns, äɴ-byäɴs')   
n.  The special atmosphere or mood created by a particular environment: "The noir ambience is dominated by low-key lighting . . . and deep shadows, creating feelings of disorientation, loneliness and entrapment" (UCLA Film/TV Archive).

[French, from ambiant, surrounding, from Latin ambiēns, ambient-; see ambient.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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