bi‧o‧sphere /ˈbaɪəsfɪə $ -sfɪr/ noun [singular]
technical the part of the world in which animals, plants etc can live

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

the environment the air, water, and land on Earth, which is affected by man’s activities:
We need to do more to protect the environment.
How much does air travel damage the environment?
ecosystem technical all the animals and plants that exist in a place, considered as a single system with parts that depend on each other:
the island’s fragile ecosystem
The rapid decline in the number of great sharks is disrupting the marine ecosystem.
habitat the natural home of an animal or plant:
The tree can grow to be 120 feet tall in its natural habitat.
the biosphere technical the Earth’s surface and atmosphere where animals and plants can live:
Scientists are monitoring changes in the global biosphere.
ecology the scientific study of the way in which the animals, plants, and natural features of a place affect and depend on each other:
She’s studying marine ecology.
green adjective [only before noun] relating to the environment or to protecting the environment:
Voters are becoming more concerned about green issues.
The party is keen to demonstrate its green credentials (=show that it thinks the environment is important).
eco- prefix relating to the environment and protecting the environment:
eco-friendly products (=which do not harm the environment)
eco-tourism (=which does not harm the environment)
eco-warrior (=someone who protests to try to save the environment)
eco-sensitive land (=where the environment is easily damaged)
a coastal/desert/mountain etc environment
The storm caused significant damage to the coastal environment.
an inhospitable/harsh environment (=one where the conditions make life difficult)
The freezing climate makes this one of the most inhospitable environments on the planet.
a hostile environment (=with many difficulties and dangers)
It is difficult to see how anything can survive in such a hostile environment.
a fragile environment (=easily damaged or destroyed)
Many people are worried about the impact of tourism on the region’s fragile environment.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲