terrestrial

ter·res·tri·al

adj
\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

Related to TERRESTRIAL

Synonyms: carnal, earthborn, earthbound, fleshly, material, mundane, sublunary, temporal, terrene, earthly, worldly

Antonyms: heavenly, nontemporal, unearthly, unworldly

Related Words: animal, bodily, corporal, corporeal, physical; daily, diurnal; unspiritual; anthropic (or anthropical), anthropocentric

Near Antonyms: celestial, Elysian, empyreal, empyrean, supernal; metaphysical; devotional, divine, religious, sacred, spiritual, utopian; extraterrestrial; ethereal, supernatural, transcendent, transcendental

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Astronomy Terms

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