landscape

landscape — noun

1. a wide stretch of land that you can see from a particular place, especially one

1.nounB1
Definition

a wide stretch of land that you can see from a particular place, especially one that has a particular appearance or character

Example

Haruto stood on the hill and looked at the wide landscape of green fields.

landscape + of + natural features

The landscape around the lake changed dramatically after the winter storm.

Common collocations
  • mountain landscape
  • urban landscape
  • desert landscape
  • coastal landscape
  • dramatic landscape
  • change the landscape
Synonyms
  • scenery

    focuses on the natural beauty of the surroundings rather than the broad view

  • view

    what can be seen from one particular spot, often more limited in scope

  • terrain

    emphasizes the physical features and surface of the land

Grammar Patterns

landscape + of + noun phrase

Usage Note

This sense refers to the actual physical scenery. Use landscape + of to describe the types of features in the view, such as 'a landscape of rolling hills' or 'a desert landscape.'

Common Mistakes

The landscape scenery was beautiful.
The landscape was beautiful.
'landscape' already includes the idea of scenery; using both together is redundant.

2. an artwork that shows natural scenery such as fields, hills, or woodland, or the

2.nounB1
Definition

an artwork that shows natural scenery such as fields, hills, or woodland, or the artistic tradition of creating such works

Example

Folake bought a small oil landscape at the local art fair last weekend.

count noun: a painting

The gallery is showing landscapes by 19th-century French painters this month.

Common collocations
  • paint a landscape
  • landscape painter
  • landscape painting
  • oil landscape
  • watercolor landscape
Synonyms
  • scene

    a broader term for any painted or drawn view, not limited to countryside

  • painting

    a general term for any artwork; landscape specifies the subject matter

Usage Note

As a countable noun ('a landscape') this means a specific painting. As an uncountable noun ('landscape' without an article) it refers to the artistic genre or style.

3. the general characteristics or shape of a situation, industry, or area of activi

3.nounB2
Definition

the general characteristics or shape of a situation, industry, or area of activity at a particular time

Example

The political landscape in the country shifted after the election results were announced.

metaphorical: political/economic landscape

Small shops face a very different competitive landscape now than they did ten years ago.

Common collocations
  • political landscape
  • economic landscape
  • competitive landscape
  • business landscape
  • social landscape
  • change the landscape
  • shift the landscape
  • reshape the landscape
Synonyms
  • situation

    broader and less vivid; lacks the visual metaphor of landscape

  • climate

    focuses on the prevailing attitudes or conditions rather than features

  • arena

    emphasizes a field of competition or activity

Grammar Patterns

the + adjective + landscape

landscape + of + noun

Usage Note

This metaphorical sense is always used with a modifier that specifies the field or area — e.g., 'political landscape,' 'economic landscape,' 'competitive landscape.' Usually singular.

Common Mistakes

The landscape of economy has changed.
The economic landscape has changed.
Use the adjective form before 'landscape' rather than 'landscape of [noun].'
Idioms

a blot on the landscape

idiom

Something, usually a building, that spoils the beauty of an area.

That new factory is a blot on the landscape.

Maya thinks the old water tower is a blot on the landscape.

landscape — verb

landscape — adjective

Word family

  • landscaped
    adjectiveB2
  • landscaping
    nounB2
  • landscaper
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words relate to what you can see in the outdoors, but they differ in scope and emphasis. 'Landscape' suggests a wide, panoramic stretch of land with its natural features — it is the broadest of the four and often implies a composition of elements (hills, trees, water) seen as a whole. 'Scenery' focuses on the beauty of the surroundings, especially natural beauty that pleases the eye; it is more about visual appeal than geography. 'View' is what you can see from a particular vantage point — it is narrower and tied to a specific spot. 'Terrain' refers primarily to the physical surface features of the land (slope, rockiness, elevation) and is practical rather than aesthetic. For example, you might say 'The scenery in the mountains was breathtaking' (natural beauty), 'The view from the cabin looked out over the lake' (specific vantage), 'The terrain was too rough for cycling' (physical surface), and 'The landscape stretched for miles with rolling hills and scattered farms' (broad, composed view of the land).

scene ↗scenery ↗view ↗terrain ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • shift in the landscape
  • landscape design
  • landscape architecture
  • landscape format
  • change the landscape
  • shape the landscape

Prepositions

Etymology

DutchGermanicEnglish

The word 'landscape' entered English in the late 16th century from the Dutch word 'landschap,' which originally meant 'region' or 'province.' Dutch painters used the term to describe pictures of inland scenery, and English adopted it as an art term before extending it to the actual view of the land. The '-scape' part is related to the English suffix '-ship,' as in 'friendship' — both come from a common Germanic root meaning 'shape' or 'condition.'