an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone | a distinctive but intangible quality surrounding a person or thing |
(music) the distinctive property of a complex sound (a voice or noise or musical sound) | the mass of air surrounding the Earth |
a degree or grade of excellence or worth | the envelope of gases surrounding any celestial body |
a characteristic property that defines the apparent individual nature of something | a unit of pressure: the pressure that will support a column of mercury 760 mm high at sea level and 0 degrees centigrade |
high social status | the weather or climate at some place |
| a particular environment or surrounding influence |