jungle

/ˈdʒʌŋɡl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdʒʌŋɡl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈjəŋ-gəl/ (ame, mw)

jungle — noun

  • junglesingular
  • junglesplural

1. a thick, hot forest in a tropical region where trees, vines, and other plants gr

1.名詞B1
釋義

a thick, hot forest in a tropical region where trees, vines, and other plants grow so close together that moving through them is difficult

例句

Folake spent three weeks studying birds deep in the jungles of central Africa.

in the jungles of [region]

Bilal had to cut vines from the narrow jungle path to get through.

同義詞
  • rainforest

    refers specifically to forests with very high annual rainfall, not necessarily dense undergrowth

  • forest

    a general term for any large wooded area; jungle is a specific type of tropical forest

文法句型

the jungle

jungle + noun (jungle tree, jungle wildlife)

常見錯誤

❌We hiked through a jungle rainforest in Thailand.
✅We hiked through a jungle in Thailand.
💡a jungle is not a type of rainforest; they are different environments (rainforests have high rainfall, jungles emphasize dense growth).

2. a large, untidy collection of many different things that are mixed together in a

2.名詞B2
釋義

a large, untidy collection of many different things that are mixed together in a confusing way, making them hard to sort or separate

例句

Allison searched through a jungle of old documents in the basement looking for the contract.

a jungle of [noun phrase]

The garden behind Constanza's house had turned into a jungle of weeds and wild bushes.

同義詞
  • jumble

    emphasizes a disorderly mix of objects, but does not suggest the sense of being overwhelmed that 'jungle' implies

  • tangle

    specifically for things that are twisted or coiled together, like wires or hair

  • maze

    suggests a confusing arrangement that is difficult to navigate through

文法句型

a jungle of + noun phrase

用法筆記

Frequently used in the pattern 'a jungle of + plural noun' to describe a messy collection of physical objects.

常見錯誤

❌My desk is a jungle.
✅My desk is a jungle of papers and stationery.
💡when using 'jungle' as a metaphor for mess, you should follow it with 'of' and the specific items causing the mess.

3. a situation or place, especially in business or society, where people compete ve

3.名詞B2
釋義

a situation or place, especially in business or society, where people compete very aggressively and often harm others to gain an advantage

例句

Sahil learned that the fashion world is a jungle where only the toughest survive.

[field] is a jungle

The corporate jungle rewards those who work longer hours than their co-workers.

the corporate jungle

同義詞
  • rat race

    specifically refers to the competitive struggle for wealth and status in a career, often with a tone of weariness

  • dog-eat-dog world

    even stronger emphasis on ruthlessness and willingness to harm others for gain

  • battlefield

    suggests direct conflict and casualties rather than ongoing competition

文法句型

the jungle

[domain] is a jungle

the [adjective] jungle

用法筆記

Subject is most often a workplace, industry, or urban environment. Common fixed collocations include 'corporate jungle' and 'concrete jungle.' Distinguish from sense 2: sense 3 describes a social system, not a physical mess.

常見錯誤

❌The maths exam was a jungle.
✅The maths exam was extremely difficult.
💡'jungle' for competition refers to a long-term social or business environment, not a single event.

4. a very fast style of dance music made with electronic instruments, built around

4.名詞C1
釋義

a very fast style of dance music made with electronic instruments, built around quick drum patterns and deep, low bass sounds, originating in the United Kingdom at the beginning of the 1990s

例句

Quan bought old jungle records from a DJ who played in 1990s London.

jungle records

Eri played a jungle track whose fast breakbeats filled the dance floor.

fast breakbeats

同義詞
  • drum and bass

    a related genre that evolved from jungle, generally slower and more melodic

  • breakbeat

    a broader category of electronic music built on sampled drum breaks; jungle is a sub-type

文法句型

jungle + noun (jungle music, jungle track)

用法筆記

Uncountable — do not say 'a jungle' when referring to the music genre. This sense is British in origin and is less known outside the UK electronic music scene.