terrestrial
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13 ENTRIES FOUND:

ter·res·tri·al

adjective \tə-ˈres-t(r)ē-əl; -ˈres-chəl, -ˈresh-\

Definition of TERRESTRIAL

1
a : of or relating to the earth or its inhabitants <terrestrial magnetism>
b : mundane in scope or character : prosaic
2
a : of or relating to land as distinct from air or water <terrestrial transportation>
b (1) : living on or in or growing from land <terrestrial plants> <terrestrial birds>
(2) : of or relating to terrestrial organisms <terrestrial habits>
3
: belonging to the class of planets that are like the earth (as in density and silicate composition) <the terrestrial planets Mercury, Venus, and Mars>
terrestrial noun
ter·res·tri·al·ly adverb

Examples of TERRESTRIAL

  1. The toad has terrestrial habits, spending most of its time on shore.
  2. <scientists haven't even found all the terrestrial life on our planet>

Origin of TERRESTRIAL

Middle English, from Latin terrestris, from terra earth — more at terrace
First Known Use: 15th century

Other Astronomy Terms

gibbous, nadir, nebulous, penumbra, retrograde, sidereal, syzygy, wane, wax, zenith

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