Ambient
of the surrounding area or environment:
The tape recorder picked up too many ambient noises. The temperature in the display case was 20° lower than the ambient temperature.
completely surrounding; encompassing:
the ambient air.
creating a certain reaction or mood, often a subconscious one, by being wherever people tend to be:
ambient advertising on a shopping cart.
pertaining to or noting sounds that create a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere.
pertaining to or noting close and constant social contact and communication fostered by the Internet or the use of digital devices:
social-networking sites that enable ambient intimacy and awareness.
(def 1).
Contemporary Examples
Certainly the Gormley project was making me sensitive to the ambient life of Trafalgar Square.
London’s Living Sculptures Anthony Haden-Guest August 5, 2009
These are hard times, and there’s a lot of ambient anger looking for a target.
Good Candidates, Bad Election David Frum August 7, 2012
They block out all ambient noise and turn your seat into an oasis of silence.
How to Make Your Trip Run Smoothly Jolie Hunt December 31, 2010
“I love Kanye—I met him at a fashion show,” Testino could be heard cooing before the ambient party-noise washed over them.
The Kardashian Hegemony: Mario and Kim Take Hollywood Lloyd Grove February 23, 2013
The office is gloriously quiet, and always nice and cool, given the ambient Seattle climate and the orientation toward the north.
How I Write: Erik Larson Revisits ‘Isaac’s Storm’ Noah Charney October 30, 2012
Historical Examples
The smell of lunch and the cigarette smoke filled the room with an ambient, steamy vapor.
Nana, The Miller’s Daughter, Captain Burle, Death of Olivier Becaille Emile Zola
He advises you therefore to name the ambient sea for the boundary of your hospital.
The Tatler, Volume 3 Various
She may continue her speech to the ambient air; for, when next she looks up from her larceny of bonbons, Peggy is gone.
Doctor Cupid Rhoda Broughton
An unutterably pure and lofty joy filled my soul, and I felt, as if we were out of the body floating on ambient clouds.
Homo Sum, Complete Georg Ebers
So likewise a little Air blown under the water, is united or thrust into a Bubble by the ambient water.
Micrographia Robert Hooke
adjective
of or relating to the immediate surroundings: the ambient temperature was 15°C
creating a relaxing atmosphere: ambient music
noun
(informal) ambient music
adj.
1590s, “surrounding, encircling,” from Latin ambientem (nominative ambiens) “going round,” present participle of ambire “to go around,” from amb- “around” (see ambi-) + ire “go” (see ion). The ground sense of “revolving” led to “encircling, lying all around.”
ambient am·bi·ent (ām’bē-ənt)
adj.
Surrounding; encircling.
Read Also:
- Ambient air standard
the highest concentration of a specific air pollutant at a particular outdoor location, in a specified unit of time, that is not considered hazardous to humans: The ambient air standard for gas X is 3 parts per million per hour.
- Ambient device
noun any simple wireless object that unobtrusively presents information Examples A digital picture frame is an ambient device.
- Ambient food
noun food that can be stored at room temperature Examples Ambient food include thermostabilized, aseptic-fill, shelf-stable natural form foods, and rehydratable beverages. — NASA
- Ambient music
Also called ambient. a genre of instrumental music that focuses on sound patterns more than melodic form and is used to create a certain atmosphere or state of mind. . noun a music genre that is mainly instrumental, featuring electronics and inconsistent beat and intended create a relaxing or peaceful atmosphere or mood Examples Ambient […]
- Ambient light
noun the light surrounding an environment or subject, esp. in regard to photography and other art work; also called available light , existing light Examples Ambient light is not that caused by illumination supplied by the photographer.