CG: n

CT: What, exactly, is a rainforest? And what’s the difference between a rainforest and a jungle?

A jungle is an area that’s densely overgrown with trees and tangled vegetation, usually in a warm place with a high rainfall. Their floors are thick with vines, shrubbery, and tons and tons of insects, making it super difficult to make your way through one. The term “jungle,” however, is a descriptive term, not a scientific one—it doesn’t actually refer to a specific ecosystem.

But “rainforest” does. A rainforest, like a jungle, is filled with thick vegetation—but unlike a jungle, it has a layer of tall trees, called a canopy, that blocks out most of the sunlight. This canopy prevents light from reaching the ground, inhibiting the growth of plants on the forest floor. So while jungles have a ton of stuff happening below your feet, rainforests don’t—most of the action is happening in the trees above.

S: Whatsthediff – https://www.whatsthediff.org/blog/2019/08/28/whats-the-difference-between-a-rainforest-and-a-jungle/ (last access: 19 April 2025)

N: 1. 1776, “dense growth of trees and other tangled vegetation,” such as that of some regions in India, from Hindi jangal “desert, forest, wasteland, uncultivated ground,” from Sanskrit jangala-s “arid, sparsely grown with trees,” a word of unknown origin.

Extended by 1849 to other places overgrown by vegetation in a wild, tangled mass. The figurative sense of “wild, tangled mass” of anything is by 1850.

Jungle, derived to us, through the living languages of India, from the Sanskrit, may now be regarded as good English. The sort of wild which it denotes is common enough in many countries, but is not nearly so aptly designated by any other expression. [Fitzedward Hall, “Modern English,” 1873]

The meaning “place notoriously lawless and violent” is attested by 1906, from Upton Sinclair’s novel. The meaning “hobo camp” is from 1908.

Asphalt jungle (1949) is from William R. Burnett’s novel title, made into a film 1950 by John Huston; blackboard jungle (1954) is from Evan Hunter’s novel title and 1955 movie. Jungle fever “remittent malignant fever prevalent in India and tropical regions” is from 1803. Jungle gym appears in advertisements from 1921, originally one word, made by Junglegym Inc., Chicago, U.S. Jungle bunny, derogatory for “Black person,” is attested by 1966.

2. Three meanings:

3. jungle, tropical forest with luxuriant, tangled, impenetrable vegetation, generally teeming with wildlife; popularly associated with the tropics. See rainforest.

4. It’s important to remember that the distinctions between jungles and rainforests significantly affect conservation efforts. Due to their unique characteristics, different strategies may be required to protect these ecosystems. For example, rainforest conservation often focuses on preserving the canopy and preventing deforestation to maintain the complex ecological interactions. In contrast, jungle conservation may focus more on protecting specific species and managing the dense undergrowth to prevent overgrowth or degradation.

5. Collocations:

• ADJ. dense, impenetrable, thick | tropical | concrete, urban (figurative) This outback area is a far cry from the city’s concrete jungle.
• JUNGLE + NOUN warfare
• PREP. in ~ a temple deep in the Brazilian jungle | through ~ They hacked their way through dense jungle.

6. Cultural Interrelation: We can mention The Jungle Book (1894) written by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936), and the novel Asphalt jungle (1949) by William R. Burnett (1899-1982)

S: 1. Etymonline – https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=jungle (last access: 19 April 2025). 2. BritDict – https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/jungle (last access: 19 April 2025). 3. EncBrit – https://www.britannica.com/science/jungle (last access: 19 April 2025). 4. Mashpi – https://www.mashpilodge.com/blog/nature/jungle-and-rainforest/ (last access: 19 April 2025). 5. OCD – https://www.freecollocation.com/search?word=jungle (last access: 19 April 2025). 6. GR – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41684.The_Jungle_Books, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/439283.The_Asphalt_Jungle (last access: 19 April 2025).

SYN:
S:

CR: ecology, felid, forest, prairie, savanna, steppe, taiga, tropical rainforest, tundra.