Word Study
ambient
CIDE DICTIONARY
ambient, a. [L. ambiens, p. pr. of ambire to go around; amb- + ire to go.].
Encompassing on all sides; circumfused; investing. [1913 Webster]
ambient, n.
Something that surrounds or invests; as, air . . . being a perpetual ambient. Sir H. Wotton. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
ambient, adj. surrounding.
Etymology
F ambiant or L ambiens -entis pres. part. of ambire go round
THESAURUS
ambient
ambience, atmosphere, circling, circumambient, circumferential, circumflex, circumfluent, circumfluous, circumjacent, climate, embracing, encircling, enclosing, encompassing, enfolding, enveloping, environing, medium, milieu, mise-en-scene, neighboring, peripheral, roundabout, suburban, surrounding, surroundings, wrappingROGET THESAURUS
ambient
Circumjacence
N circumjacence, circumambience, environment, encompassment, atmosphere, medium, surroundings, outpost, border, girdle, outskirts, boulebards, suburbs, purlieus, precincts, faubourgs, environs, entourage, banlieue, neighborhood, vicinage, vicinity, circumjacent, circumambient, circumfluent, ambient, surrounding, circumferential, suburban, around, about, without, on every side, on all sides, right and left, all round, round about.For further exploring for "ambient" in Webster Dictionary Online