ecosystem

The word “ecosystem” means a community of living things together with the physical environment they interact with. In plain terms, a self-contained system of living things and their surroundings — or, more loosely, any tightly connected network of people, products, or businesses.

“Ecosystem” is pronounced EE-koh-sihs-tuhm (/ˈikoʊˌsɪstəm/ in IPA).

Here is “ecosystem” used in a sentence: “Coral reefs support one of the richest ecosystems on Earth.”

“Ecosystem” is a noun.

The word “ecosystem” dates back to around 1935. Coined in 1935 by the English botanist Arthur Tansley from "eco-" plus "system," describing how living organisms and their environment function as one connected whole.

“Ecosystem” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Ecosystem” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a community of living things together with the physical environment they interact with.

A habitat is the specific physical environment where an organism lives, while an ecosystem is the entire community of living things together with the physical environment they interact with, including multiple habitats and species. An ecosystem is therefore a broader concept than a single habitat.

Yes, ecosystem is also used to describe a network of interconnected people, companies, or products that function together, such as a 'tech ecosystem' or a 'business ecosystem.' This figurative use borrows the idea of interdependent parts working as a whole from its biological meaning.

The environment refers broadly to the surroundings in which living things exist, while an ecosystem specifically describes the community of living things together with that environment, emphasizing how they interact. An ecosystem is essentially a functional unit within the wider environment.