emergent

Everyday

1. Emergent means starting to appear, grow or become known. tree →
2. (science) An emergent plant grows in water but its top sticks up out of the water, like a reed. tree →
3. (science, rainforest) The emergent layer is the very top of a rainforest, where the tallest trees poke above the canopy. tree →
4. (formal) An emergent property is something a whole group has that its single parts do not have. tree →

In the lessons

In geography and science lessons pupils learn rainforest layers: forest floor, understorey, canopy, emergent layer. In pond studies, emergent plants grow at the edge. In everyday or formal talk, emergent means new and growing: «emergent readers» are children just starting to read. Phrases: «emergent layer», «emergent writing», «emergent technology».

Examples

• The emergent layer is home to eagles and monkeys. tree →
• The tallest trees in the rainforest are emergent trees. tree →
• Reeds are emergent plants at the edge of the pond. tree →
• Teachers help emergent readers with simple books. tree →
• An ant colony is clever even though each ant is simple — that is an emergent property. tree →
• Emergent countries are growing quickly. tree →

Note

Adjective only. Related: emerge (verb), emergence (noun). Do not confuse with «emergency» (a sudden dangerous event) — they share a root but mean different things. «Emerging» is the more common everyday word: «emerging markets».