habitable
/'hæbitəbl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective: Suitable or fit to live in; capable of being inhabited.
Usage
The word "habitable" describes a place, environment, or structure that provides the basic conditions necessary for human (or sometimes other life forms') survival and residence. It implies the presence of essential elements like breathable air, tolerable temperatures, access to water, and structural safety.
Examples
- Scientists are searching for habitable planets beyond our solar system.
- After the repairs, the old cottage was finally habitable again.
- The harsh climate makes much of the region uninhabitable, with only a few habitable zones near the coast.
Advanced Usage
- Marginally habitable / Barely habitable: Describes a place that just meets the minimum requirements for living, often with significant difficulty or discomfort.
- The shelter was barely habitable, offering little protection from the cold.
- In legal and rental contexts, a property must meet certain standards (like having working plumbing and heating) to be considered legally habitable.
Variants and Related Words
- Inhabitable: A less common synonym with the same meaning as "habitable."
- Uninhabitable (adj.): The direct opposite, meaning not fit to be lived in.
- Habitat (n.): The natural environment in which an organism lives.
- Habitation (n.): The act of living in a place; a place of residence.
Synonyms
Livable, inhabitable, occupiable.
Antonyms
Uninhabitable, uninhabitable.
Related Phrases
- Habitable zone (n.): In astronomy, the region around a star where conditions might be right for liquid water to exist on a planet's surface—a key factor for potential life. Also called the "Goldilocks zone."
- Finding an Earth-like planet in the habitable zone is a major goal for astronomers.
Adjective
- fit for habitation
- the habitable world