habitathab‧i‧tat /ˈhæbətæt/ ●○○ noun [countable, uncountable] 
watching monkeys in their natural habitat The grassland is an important habitat for many wild flowers.COLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + habitatsomething’s natural habitat (=the type of place where an animal or plant usually lives or grows)· She studies gorillas in their natural habitat.something’s native habitat (=the particular place where an animal or plant lives or grows)· Even in its native habitat, the plant is very rare.a wildlife habitat· The land next to the harbour is perhaps the most threatened wildlife habitat in Britain.a woodland/wetland/grassland/marshland habitat (=a place in a wood, etc where animals and plants live or grow)· The owl inhabits woodland habitats from Scotland to southern Spain.a coastal habitat (=a place near the coast where animals and plants live or grow)· Dolphins are vulnerable to these poisons because of their coastal habitat.a marine habitat (=a place in the sea where animals and plants live and grow)· Cuttlefish are found in marine habitats worldwide.an important habitat· The island is an important habitat for exotic animals.verbsdamage/destroy a habitat· Widening the road will uproot trees and damage wildlife habitat.provide a habitat (=be suitable and available as a home for particular animals or plants)· Marshes provide the habitat of many species of wading birds.conserve/protect a habitat (=prevent it from changing or being damaged)· These measures will protect the habitat of endangered species such as wolves.create a habitat· The aim is to create a suitable breeding habitat for rare birds.phrasesloss of habitat· Elephants are menaced by poaching and loss of habitat.the destruction of a habitat· It is in south Texas that the destruction of the bird’s habitat has been most alarming.
WORD ORIGINhabitat
Origin:
1700-1800 Latin ‘it lives in a place’, from habitare; ➔ HABITATIONEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Ancient habitats such as grasslands, bogs, and wetlands are rapidly disappearing.
- Further building development would threaten valuable badger and red squirrel habitats.
- Suburban gardens can provide habitats for many forms of wildlife.
- Any birdwatcher would just look in a range book, look at the description of habitat and start hiking.
- Make a resolution to spend more time in the coming year visiting inspiring wild habitats.
- Not only have tigers doubled in numbers, but other species and habitats have benefited.
- Our supply of iron is divided up among ten billion space habitats, each carrying one million residents.
- Some attacked the fact that faster growth has been environmentally unsound, creating excessive carbon emissions and destroying natural habitats.
- The school site is located in prime pygmy owl habitat.
- Unlike our previous habitats, it had personality.
THESAURUS
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?
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.
the natural home of an animal or plant: · The tree can grow to be 120 feet tall in its natural habitat.
technical the Earth’s surface and atmosphere where animals and plants can live: · Scientists are monitoring changes in the global biosphere.
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.
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).
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)
Longman Language Activatorthe natural world that people, animals, and plants live in the air, water, and land where people, animals, and plants live, and the way all these things depend on each other so that life can continue: · Many modern farming methods are highly damaging to the environment.· Young people between 18 and 30 tend to be much more concerned about the environment than the older generation.· Ask your local MP what he or she intends to do to help protect the environment.
the animals, plants etc that exist in a particular area or type of area and the way they all depend on each other in order to live, considered as a single separate part of the environment: · The bay has a very complex and delicate ecosystem.· The rainforest is a self-supporting ecosystem.a marine/forest/riverbank etc ecosystem: · Many species of burrowing insects are essential for maintaining a healthy soil ecosystem.
the way in which plants, animals, and the natural features of a place affect and depend on each other, or the scientific study of this: · Plans to build a new airfield could threaten the delicate ecology of the island.· She is giving a lecture about the natural history and ecology of the sea shore.
the place and natural conditions that a plant, animal, etc lives or grows best in: · Further building development would threaten valuable badger and red squirrel habitats.· Suburban gardens can provide habitats for many forms of wildlife.· Ancient habitats such as grasslands, bogs, and wetlands are rapidly disappearing.
the natural system in which plants, animals, insects etc feed on each other, for example when a particular bird feeds on a particular insect, which feeds on a particular plant etc: · The oil spill has killed off billions of microscopic sea plants, thus threatening marine life further up the food chain.· Pesticides destroy insects that are an important part of the food chain for several species of songbird.
WORD SETSaerobic, adjectiveafterbirth, nounalgae, nounalimentary canal, nounamber, nounameba, nounamino acid, nounamoeba, nounanaconda, nounanaerobic, adjectiveandrogynous, adjectiveantibody, nounantigen, nounantitoxin, nounappendage, nounarm, nounarmour, nounasexual, adjectiveassimilation, nounatrophy, verbaviary, nounbacteria, nounbacteriology, nounbarnacle, nounbile, nounbinocular vision, nounbio-, prefixbiochemistry, nounbiodegradable, adjectivebiodiversity, nounbiohazard, nounbiological, adjectivebiological clock, nounbiology, nounbiomass, nounbiome, nounbiosphere, nounblind, nounbrain, nounbreathe, verbbreed, verbbreed, nounbreeding, nounbristle, nounbulb, nouncapsule, nouncarbohydrate, nouncarbon dioxide, nouncarnivore, nouncell, nouncellular, adjectivecellulose, nouncentral nervous system, nouncervical, adjectivecholesterol, nounchromosome, nouncirculation, nouncirculatory, adjectiveclass, nounclone, nouncold-blooded, adjectiveconceive, verbconch, nounconnective tissue, nouncopulate, verbcoral reef, nouncornea, nouncoronary, adjectivecorpuscle, nouncortex, nouncortisone, nouncowrie, nouncrab, nouncrawfish, nouncrayfish, nouncreature, nouncross, verbcrossbreed, nounculture, nouncytoplasm, noundecay, verbdecay, noundecompose, verbdefecate, verbdenizen, noundextrose, noundiaphragm, noundigest, verbdigestion, noundigestive, adjectiveDNA, noundorsal, adjectivedry rot, nounduct, noundwarf, noundwarf, adjectiveecological, adjectiveecology, nounecosystem, nounegg, nounejaculate, verbembryo, nounembryonic, adjectiveenzyme, nounepidermis, nounevolution, nounevolutionary, adjectiveexcrement, nounexcrescence, nounexcrete, verbexcretion, nounexhale, verbexoskeleton, nounextinction, nounfaeces, nounfamily, nounfang, nounfat, nounfatty acid, nounfauna, nounfeces, nounfeed, verbfemale, adjectivefemale, nounferment, verbferment, nounfertile, adjectivefertility, nounfertilize, verbfission, nounflank, nounflatulence, nounflesh, nounfleshy, adjectiveflightless, adjectiveflora, nounfoetal, adjectivefoetus, nounfoliage, nounfossil, nounfreak, nounfreshwater, adjectivefructose, noungamete, nounganglion, noungene, noungene pool, noungenera, genetic, adjectivegenetic code, noungenetic engineering, noungenetic fingerprinting, noungenetics, noungenome, noungenus, noungestation, noungland, nounglandular, adjectiveglucose, noungluten, noungonad, noungrass snake, noungrow, verbgrowth, nounhabitat, nounhaemoglobin, nounhearing, nounheart, nounhemisphere, nounherbivore, nounhereditary, adjectiveheredity, nounhermaphrodite, nounhibernate, verbhistamine, nounhoming, adjectivehormone, nounhost, nounimpregnate, verbimpulse, nounincubate, verbindigenous, adjectiveinfected, adjectiveinfertile, adjectiveinfest, verbingest, verbinhale, verbinseminate, verbinsensate, adjectiveinsulin, nounintegument, nounintercourse, nouninterferon, nounintestine, nouninvertebrate, nouninvoluntary, adjectiveiris, nounjaw, nounjelly, nounkidney, nounkrill, nounlactate, verblactation, nounlactic acid, nounleech, nounleg, nounlesser, adjectivelichen, nounlife, nounlife cycle, nounlife form, nounligament, nounlimb, nounlimpet, nounlipid, nounliver, nounliving fossil, nounlocomotion, nounlymph, nounlymph node, nounmale, adjectivemale, nounmammal, nounmandible, nounmate, nounmate, verbmembrane, nounmetabolism, nounmetabolize, verbmetamorphosis, nounmicrobe, nounmicrobiology, nounmicroorganism, nounmicroscopic, adjectivemigrate, verbmigratory, adjectivemiscarriage, nounmolar, nounmorphology, nounmotor, adjectivemould, nounmouth, nounmucous membrane, nounmucus, nounmulticellular, adjectivemuscle, nounmuscular, adjectivemutant, nounmutate, verbmutation, nounnatural history, nounnatural selection, nounnature, nounneck, nounnectar, nounnerve, nounnervous, adjectivenervous system, nounneural, adjectiveneuro-, prefixneurology, nounnode, nounnose, nounnostril, nounnucleic acid, nounnucleus, nounnutrient, nounnutriment, nounoesophagus, nounoestrogen, nounolfactory, adjectiveoptic, adjectiveorgan, nounorganic, adjectiveorganic chemistry, nounorganism, nounorifice, nounossify, verbosteo-, prefixoutgrowth, nounova, ovary, nounoverwinter, verboviduct, nounoviparous, adjectiveovulate, verbovum, nounparasite, nounpathogen, nounpedigree, nounpelvic, adjectivepelvis, nounpenile, adjectivepenis, nounpepsin, nounperiod, nounperspiration, nounperspire, verbphotosynthesis, nounphylum, nounpigment, nounpigmentation, nounplankton, nounplasma, nounpollinate, verbpostnatal, adjectivepregnancy, nounpregnant, adjectivepremature, adjectiveprenatal, adjectiveproduct, nounproliferation, nounpropagate, verbprotein, nounprotoplasm, nounprotozoan, nounpuberty, nounpulmonary, adjectivepulp, nounpulsation, nounputrefy, verbputrid, adjectivered blood cell, nounregurgitate, verbrenal, adjectivereproduce, verbreproduction, nounreproductive, adjectiverespiration, nounrespiratory, adjectiverespire, verbretina, nounroot, nounrot, verbrot, nounruff, nounsac, nounsaliva, nounsalivary gland, nounsalivate, verbsaltwater, adjectivescale, nounscallop, nounscaly, adjectivesebaceous, adjectivesecrete, verbsecretion, nounsemen, nounsense organ, nounsensory, adjectiveserum, nounsex, nounsex, verbsexless, adjectivesexual intercourse, nounsheath, nounshell, nounsibling, nounskeletal, adjectiveskeleton, nounskin, nounskull, nounspasm, nounspasmodic, adjectivespecies, nounspecimen, nounsperm, nounspiderweb, nounspinal cord, nounspine, nounspineless, adjectivestarch, nounstem cell, nounstimulate, verbstimulus, nounstrain, nounsubject, nounsubspecies, nounsucker, nounsucrose, nounsweat, verbsweat, nounsweat gland, nounsymbiosis, nounsystemic, adjectivetail, nountaxonomy, nounteeth, testosterone, nountest-tube baby, nountissue, nountrachea, nountube, noununicellular, adjectiveurethra, nounuric, adjectiveurinate, verburine, nounvariety, nounvector, nounvein, nounvenom, nounvenomous, adjectiveventricle, nounvertebra, nounvertebrate, nounvivisection, nounwarm-blooded, adjectivewean, verbwildlife, nounwindpipe, nounyolk, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYADJECTIVES/NOUN + habitat the destruction of wildlife habitatsCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
the natural home of a plant or animal: (=the type of place where an animal or plant usually lives or grows)· She studies gorillas in their natural habitat.
(=the particular place where an animal or plant lives or grows)· Even in its native habitat, the plant is very rare.
· The land next to the harbour is perhaps the most threatened wildlife habitat in Britain.
(=a place in a wood, etc where animals and plants live or grow)· The owl inhabits woodland habitats from Scotland to southern Spain.
(=a place near the coast where animals and plants live or grow)· Dolphins are vulnerable to these poisons because of their coastal habitat.
(=a place in the sea where animals and plants live and grow)· Cuttlefish are found in marine habitats worldwide.
· The island is an important habitat for exotic animals.
verbs· Widening the road will uproot trees and damage wildlife habitat.
(=be suitable and available as a home for particular animals or plants)· Marshes provide the habitat of many species of wading birds.
(=prevent it from changing or being damaged)· These measures will protect the habitat of endangered species such as wolves.
· The aim is to create a suitable breeding habitat for rare birds.
phrases· Elephants are menaced by poaching and loss of habitat.
· It is in south Texas that the destruction of the bird’s habitat has been most alarming.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES (=of the natural homes of plants and animals)· Habitat destruction has reduced elephant herds in central Africa.
the destruction of wildlife habitats· Whereas the endangered species listing is determined solely upon scientific data, economics play a role in deciding critical habitat.· When critical habitat is designated, it does not mean federal agents in unmarked helicopters start circling private property.· Basically, if there are no pygmy owls present, a private landowner can turn his critical habitat into a parking lot.· If the project were determined not to damage critical habitat, then the Corps could move forward.· At the core of the issue is the determination of critical habitat.· The Southwest Center folks want to see the jaguar listed and critical habitat designated for the salamander and owl.· The designation of critical habitat lays at the heart of this battle.· He argues there are only two exemptions in the Endangered Species Act for not determining critical habitat.
· Meadows and woodlands are better looked after, but that still leaves many different habitats that do not have sufficient protection.· Beetle larvae and adults usually occupy different habitats and rely on different food supplies.· The mild climate and the many different habitats support a wide variety of birds and flowers, butterflies and moths.· The richest centres have the most complicated mosaics of different habitat types reflected in topography, soils and vegetation.
· The open sea is also an important habitat.· Her group, Keeping Track, is dedicated to identifying, monitoring, and educating on important wildlife habitat and travel corridors.· Since then the area has become overgrown with reeds and provides an important habitat for bird life.· The grazing marshes adjacent to the river are an important wildlife habitat.· Wet gravel pits are generally recognised as important habitats for wildlife, particularly in view of the increasing drainage of wetlands.· The most important breeding habitat is lakes or ponds with good marginal vegetation.
· Temperatures of up to 84° tolerated in its native habitat, without showing any ill effect.· It is alleged, however, that R. rostrata is rare even in its native habitat.
· Plantations of exotic non-native trees use up large quantities of water, which can have adverse affects on natural habitats.· To determine our mating system we need to know our natural habitat and our past.· Today, hunting is no longer allowed and tourists visit these national parks to view and photograph the wildlife in their natural habitats.· His natural habitat is the graph, his occupation the computer simulation.· Their natural habitat is the Amazonian jungle with a high temperature and humidity.· Some, however, are believed to be original natural habitats.
· It will create new natural habitats in reedbeds, grasslands, swamp, saltmarsh, water and woodlands.· Day-to-day survival adds perhaps less to overall future genetic investment than does populating a new habitat.· The projects focus on maintaining and protecting the species' habitats, and in some cases establishing them in new habitats.· The family of dinosaurs, faced with this vast new range of habitats, rose to greatness by exploiting it.· I know the portents of my new habitat, I have been learning my local lore.· The trout settled into their new habitat and became relatively wild, dour and more discriminating, some growing to considerable size.
· Malayan barn owls are adapting quickly to this rich habitat and are reproducing much faster than elsewhere.· There are both native woodland and conifer plantations which gives a rich mosaic of habitats for wildlife.
· It will destroy sites with a wide variety of habitats.· It boasts a wide range of habitats supporting an impressive variety of plants, birds and butterflies.· The leopard's spots provided excellent camouflage in the wide range of habitats in which it successfully lived.· They divide up their waters quite amicably, and each occupies a wide range of habitats, from ponds to estuaries.· A wide range of habitats and resources was thus available within one or two hours' walk.
NOUN· Many species are threatened in the wild due to habitat destruction by man and probably over-hunting.· The mountain Gorilla, a uniquely social animal, is threatened by habitat destruction and poaching.
· With few bears and wolves about these days, elk rule their forest habitat.· Scientists suggested that the disappearance of the panda's traditional bamboo forest habitat had forced the herbivore to turn meat-eater.
· The long-term implications of these habitat losses for individual species, if the present trends continue, are likely to be disastrous.· Hunting and habitat loss are the most likely reasons.· At a recent meeting between the two bodies they agreed that countering habitat loss is a high priority.
· It provided grazing land, timber, fruits and fuel, while remaining an undamaged wildlife habitat.· Her group, Keeping Track, is dedicated to identifying, monitoring, and educating on important wildlife habitat and travel corridors.· This project will estimate the benefits and costs of wildlife habitats and compare the results using different valuation techniques.· It also aims to preserve wildlife habitat and agricultural land.· The grazing marshes adjacent to the river are an important wildlife habitat.· The city left the natural wash intact, and the area now serves as both flood control and urban wildlife habitat.
VERB· Finally, humans create habitats of a kind that may well occur in nature, but not commonly.· It will create new natural habitats in reedbeds, grasslands, swamp, saltmarsh, water and woodlands.· By spreading woodchips over the ground, gardeners then create the perfect habitat for fungi of all sorts.
· Some attacked the fact that faster growth has been environmentally unsound, creating excessive carbon emissions and destroying natural habitats.· Winning fuel and materials pollutes, consumes energy, destroys habitat.· The corncrake and marsh fritillary have been the victims of intensive agriculture as ploughing and pesticides destroy habitat and insects.
· These figures emphasise the importance of protecting these coastal habitats.· The projects focus on maintaining and protecting the species' habitats, and in some cases establishing them in new habitats.· We will continue to encourage this approach through schemes to protect landscape and habitats of special importance.
· They provide the habitat of a wide variety of species of wading birds.· These provide suitable habitats for the amphibious species of Echinodorus.· Since then the area has become overgrown with reeds and provides an important habitat for bird life.· A single rock in a stream provides at least four habitats.
watching monkeys in their natural habitat The grassland is an important habitat for many wild flowers.COLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + habitatsomething’s natural habitat (=the type of place where an animal or plant usually lives or grows)· She studies gorillas in their natural habitat.something’s native habitat (=the particular place where an animal or plant lives or grows)· Even in its native habitat, the plant is very rare.a wildlife habitat· The land next to the harbour is perhaps the most threatened wildlife habitat in Britain.a woodland/wetland/grassland/marshland habitat (=a place in a wood, etc where animals and plants live or grow)· The owl inhabits woodland habitats from Scotland to southern Spain.a coastal habitat (=a place near the coast where animals and plants live or grow)· Dolphins are vulnerable to these poisons because of their coastal habitat.a marine habitat (=a place in the sea where animals and plants live and grow)· Cuttlefish are found in marine habitats worldwide.an important habitat· The island is an important habitat for exotic animals.verbsdamage/destroy a habitat· Widening the road will uproot trees and damage wildlife habitat.provide a habitat (=be suitable and available as a home for particular animals or plants)· Marshes provide the habitat of many species of wading birds.conserve/protect a habitat (=prevent it from changing or being damaged)· These measures will protect the habitat of endangered species such as wolves.create a habitat· The aim is to create a suitable breeding habitat for rare birds.phrasesloss of habitat· Elephants are menaced by poaching and loss of habitat.the destruction of a habitat· It is in south Texas that the destruction of the bird’s habitat has been most alarming.