ˈhabəˌtat, usu -ad.+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: Latin, it inhabits, 3d person singular present indicative of habitare to inhabit (the initial word in Latin descriptions of species of fauna and flora in old natural histories) — more at habit
1.
a. : the place where a plant or animal species naturally lives and grows
found as weeds throughout the tropics, but their original habitat has not been determined — Walter Bally
b. : the kind of site or region with respect to physical features (as soil, weather, elevation) naturally or normally preferred by a biological species
provides three main kinds of habitat , namely rocks, sand, and mud — W.H.Dowdeswell
shell opaque and dull, varying in solidity according to the habitat
c. : the purely physical environment of a locality occupied by a human group
unable to maintain themselves as rulers in the steppe habitat of the nomads — Owen & Eleanor Lattimore
2. : the place where something is commonly found
has its natural habitat in university, in government, or in industrial laboratories — B.B.Watson