Ambient

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈæm.biː.É™nt/

Origin

From Latin ambiens ("going around"), from ambiō ("go around").

Full definition of ambient

Adjective

1. Encompassing on all sides; surrounding; encircling; enveloping.A cup of tea eventually cools to the ambient temperature.
• Alexander PopeA glorious pile ... whose tow'ring summit ambient clouds concealed.
• MiltonThis which yields or fills all space, the ambient air wide interfused.
2. (music) Evoking or creating an atmosphere: atmospheric.
3. Relating to, or suitable for, storage at room temperature.ambient foodambient warehousing
4. (geometry, topology) Containing objects that one is interested in.

Noun

1. Something that surrounds.
2. (uncountable, music) A type of modern music which incorporates elements of various musical styles, and creates a relaxing and peaceful atmosphere.
• 1996, SPIN magazine (volume 12, number 3, page 116)Ambient can be flabby synth mulch that needs to access cyberism and external philosophies to convince you you're not being scammed.
3. (astrology) The atmosphere; the surrounding air or sky; atmospheric components collectively such as air, clouds, water vapour, hail, etc.
• 1662 Thomas Salusbury, Galileo's Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems (Dialogue 2):It might be also, that attracted by that great void Vacuum ... all the ambients would be rarified, and particularly, the air.

Synonyms

• (music) ambient music, chillout