jungle

jungle [Hindustani jangal =desert, forest; from Skt. jangala =wasteland, uncultivated land], densest form of tropical forest (usually second growth or later) found throughout tropical lowland regions. Jungle is characterized by high humidity and resultant abundance (both in numbers and variety) of flora and concomitantly of fauna. Jungle is not a strict ecological term and is often applied to any impenetrable thicket or tangled mass of vegetation.

jun·gle / ˈjənggəl/ • n. 1. an area of land overgrown with dense forest and tangled vegetation, typically in the tropics: we set off into the jungle | the lakes are hidden in dense jungle. ∎  a wild tangled mass of vegetation or other things: the garden was a jungle of bluebells. ∎  a situation or place of bewildering complexity or brutal competitiveness: it's a jungle out there. ∎  (also hobo jungle) inf. a hobo camp. 2. (also jungle music) a style of dance music incorporating elements of ragga, hip-hop, and hard core and consisting almost exclusively of very fast electronic drum tracks and slower synthesized bass lines, originating in Britain in the early 1990s. Compare with drum and bass. PHRASES: the law of the jungle the principle that those who are strong and apply ruthless self-interest will be most successful.DERIVATIVES: jun·gled adj.jun·gly adj.

jungle (orig.) waste land; (hence) land overgrown with underwood. XVIII. —Hindi jaṅgal :- Skr. jaṅgala- arid region.