transferred and figurative. The environment or surroundings in which a person or thing is ‘set’; the literary framework of a narrative or other…

In plural. Originally: stage scenery or stage effects (now rare). Now usually: modelled landscape scenery for use in small-scale model-building.

figurative. Also attributive.

An environment; surroundings, esp. social surroundings. Cf. medium, n. 5b.

The physical surroundings or conditions in which a person or other organism lives, develops, etc., or in which a thing exists; the external…

plural. The whole affecting circumstances under which a being exists.

plural. Those things which surround a person or thing, or in the midst of which he or it (habitually) is; things around (collectively); environment.

A pervading or enveloping substance; the substance in which an organism lives; esp. one in which microorganisms, cells, etc., are cultured. In…

The area surrounding or under the influence of a person or thing; (in later use) environment, surroundings.