| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
environment en·vi·ron·ment (ěn-vī'rən-mənt, -vī'ərn-)
n.
The totality of circumstances surrounding an organism or group of organisms, especially the combination of external physical conditions that affect and influence the growth, development, and survival of organisms.
| environment (ěn-vī'rən-mənt) Pronunciation Key
All of the biotic and abiotic factors that act on an organism, population, or ecological community and influence its survival and development. Biotic factors include the organisms themselves, their food, and their interactions. Abiotic factors include such items as sunlight, soil, air, water, climate, and pollution. Organisms respond to changes in their environment by evolutionary adaptations in form and behavior. |