Pronunciation: /ɪˈməːdʒ(ə)nt/
adjective
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1in the process of coming into being or becoming prominent: the emergent democracies of eastern Europe
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Philosophy (of a property) arising as an effect of complex causes and not analysable simply as the sum of their effects.
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2 Ecology of or denoting a plant which is taller than the surrounding vegetation, especially a tall tree in a forest.
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of or denoting a water plant with leaves and flowers that appear above the water surface.
noun
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1 Philosophy an emergent property: knowledge is an emergent of this interactive process
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2 Ecology an emergent tree or other plant: emergents tower above the top canopy
