the aggregate of surrounding things, conditions, or influences; surroundings; milieu.

Ecology . the air, water, minerals, organisms, and all other external factors surrounding and affecting a given organism at any time.

the social and cultural forces that shape the life of a person or a population.

Computers . the hardware or software configuration, or the mode of operation, of a computer system

In a time-sharing environment, transactions are processed as they occur.

an indoor or outdoor setting that is characterized by the presence of environmental art that is itself designed to be site-specific.

noun

ambiance , aura , backdrop , background , circumstances , climate , conditions , context , domain , element , encompassment , entourage , habitat , hood * , jungle * , locale , medium , milieu , neck of the woods , neighborhood , purlieus , scene , scenery , setting , situation , status , stomping ground , surroundings , terrain , territory , turf , zoonotes:environment emerged linked with nature , implying \'natural\' (not human , [[not cultural) surroundings; ecology emerged as a scientific effort to connect organisms (such as the human) to their environmentsenvironment is the area in which something exists or lives; habitat is a the place or type of place where a person or thing is most likely to be found]] , atmosphere , biosphere , ecosphere , ecosystem , environs , gaianotes:environment emerged linked with nature , circumstance , locality , precinct , vicinity , mise en scne , world , acclimatization , ambience , bionomics , ecology , habitation , heredity , inurement , matrix , orientation , vicinage