The character and atmosphere of a place, especially as created by its physical surroundings. The mood or feeling associated with a particular environment.
From French 'ambiance', derived from Latin 'ambiens' (surrounding), present participle of 'ambire' (to go around). Entered English in the late 19th century, initially used in artistic and literary contexts before becoming common in describing spaces and experiences.
Restaurants and hotels spend enormous amounts on ambience because it measurably affects customer behavior - soft lighting and quiet music can make people eat more slowly and spend more money. The alternate spelling 'ambiance' is more common in American English, while 'ambience' is preferred in British English.
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