Jungle
/ˈdʒʌŋɡəl/
Definitions
2 meaningsA dense forest with tropical vegetation, typically found in hot, humid climates, and often characterized by tangled undergrowth.
/ˈdʒʌŋɡəl/
A dense, tangled area of tropical forest.
The explorers hacked their way through the dense jungle.
💡 Simply: Think of a very wild and overgrown forest, like the ones where monkeys and tigers live. It's super thick with trees and plants, and can be hard to get through!
👶 For kids: A jungle is a place with lots of trees and plants growing very close together. It's a wild place where animals like monkeys and tigers live.
More Examples
The jungle was teeming with exotic wildlife.
The humid climate made the jungle feel oppressive.
How It's Used
"Scientists are studying the biodiversity of the Amazon jungle."
"The explorers ventured deep into the heart of the jungle, facing unknown dangers."
A chaotic and competitive environment, often characterized by ruthless behavior and a struggle for survival.
/ˈdʒʌŋɡəl/
A situation or environment marked by intense competition, struggle, or confusion.
The corporate world can be a jungle, with intense competition for resources.
💡 Simply: Sometimes, people use 'jungle' to describe a tough and competitive situation, like when everyone's fighting to get ahead. It can be a bit scary and unpredictable, just like a real jungle!
👶 For kids: Sometimes people say a place is a jungle when it's a messy and confusing situation, where people are not being nice to each other.
More Examples
The online marketplace has become a jungle of scams and fake products.
Navigating the legal system felt like entering a bureaucratic jungle.
How It's Used
"The cutthroat world of finance is often described as a jungle."
"The political arena can be a jungle of conflicting interests."
Idioms & expressions
The Law of the Jungle
A situation where the strong dominate the weak; survival of the fittest; no rules apply.
"In that business, it's the law of the jungle – only the fittest survive."
Jungle fever
An attraction to a person of a different race or ethnicity.
"Some people say that movie star has a jungle fever."
From Hindi *jangal* (meaning 'wilderness, forest'), ultimately from Sanskrit *jangala* (meaning 'arid, desert'). Introduced into English in the 18th century, initially referring to dense, overgrown areas in India.
Originally used to describe the thick, overgrown regions of India encountered by British colonists, later expanding to encompass similar environments globally. The figurative meaning developed later.
Memory tip
Imagine a tangle of JUGS filled with green, all in a LE (LE= Jungle)
Word Origin
"wilderness, forest; arid, desert"