ambiance

also am·bi·ence (ăm'bē-əns, äN-byäNs')
n.
The special atmosphere or mood created by a particular environment: "The noir ambience is dominated by low-key lighting . . . and deep shadows, creating feelings of disorientation, loneliness and entrapment" (UCLA Film/TV Archive).

[French, from ambiant, surrounding, from Latin ambiēns, ambient-. See ambient.]

View more Literature & Language videos

meaning 'surroundings, atmosphere', is derived from French ambiance (a form which is also occasionally used in English). It is firmly established in the language after a century or so of use. Both spellings are in use, although ambiance differs in having a non-naturalized nasal pronunciation of the final syllable. The corresponding adjective ambient has developed a special meaning relating to instrumental electronic 'New Age' music:

Ambient music looks to have a future in this country as the official artform of the cyberpunks—Face, 1995.

Previous:	ambidextrous, amateur, alumnus
Next:	ambiguity, ambivalent, ambiguous, amen

also ambience

noun

1. A general impression produced by a predominant quality or characteristic: air, atmosphere, aura, feel, feeling, mood, smell, tone. See be.
2. The totality of surrounding conditions and circumstances affecting growth or development: atmosphere, climate, environment, medium, milieu, mise en scène, surroundings, world. See be, limited/unlimited, place.

See words rhyming with "ambience."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Ambience.

Dansk (Danish)
n. - miljø, atmosfære

Nederlands (Dutch)
ambiance, sfeer, achtergrondgeluid bij opname

Français (French)
n. - ambiance, atmosphère

Deutsch (German)
n. - Ambiente, Milieu

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - περιβάλλον, (μτφ.) περιρρέουσα ατμόσφαιρα, κλίμα, (τεχνολ.) (για μαγνητική εγγραφή) ήχοι περιβάλλοντος

Italiano (Italian)
ambiente, atmosfera

Português (Portuguese)
n. - ambiência (f) (Arquit.)

Русский (Russian)
атмосфера, окружение

Español (Spanish)
n. - ambiente

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - miljö, atmosfär

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
周围环境, 气氛

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 周圍環境, 氣氛

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 환경, 분위기

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 環境, 雰囲気

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) جو, محيط, بيئه‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮סביבה, אווירה, רעש רקע שמוסיפים להקלטה של מוסיקה כדי לעשות רושם של הקלטה חיה‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.