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View synonyms for terrestrial

terrestrial

[ tuh-res-tree-uhl ]

adjective

  1. pertaining to, consisting of, or representing the earth as distinct from other planets.

    Synonyms: terrene

    Antonyms: celestial

  2. of or relating to land as distinct from water.
  3. Botany.
    1. growing on land; not aquatic.
    2. growing in the ground; not epiphytic or aerial.
  4. Zoology. living on or in the ground; not aquatic, arboreal, or aerial.
  5. of or relating to the earth or this world; worldly; mundane.


noun

  1. an inhabitant of the earth, especially a human being.

terrestrial

/ təˈrɛstrɪəl /

adjective

  1. of or relating to the earth
  2. of or belonging to the land as opposed to the sea or air
  3. (of animals and plants) living or growing on the land
  4. earthly, worldly, or mundane
  5. (of television signals) sent over the earth's surface from a transmitter on land, rather than by satellite


noun

  1. an inhabitant of the earth

terrestrial

/ tə-rĕstrē-əl /

  1. Relating to Earth or its inhabitants.
  2. Relating to, living on, or growing on land.


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Derived Forms

  • terˈrestrialness, noun
  • terˈrestrially, adverb

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Other Words From

  • ter·restri·al·ly adverb
  • nonter·restri·al adjective noun
  • preter·restri·al adjective
  • super·ter·restri·al adjective
  • under·ter·restri·al adjective
  • unter·restri·al adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of terrestrial1

First recorded in 1450–1550; late Middle English from Latin terrestri(s) “pertaining to earth” (derivative of terra “earth”) + -al 1

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Word History and Origins

Origin of terrestrial1

C15: from Latin terrestris, from terra earth

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Synonym Study

See earthly.

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Example Sentences

This is especially true of the ocean, where impacts are less obvious than for terrestrial systems.

As the critic Dave Hickey famously said, let art be “frivolous” enough to move us at a terrestrial level.

The license from 2005 for LightSquared was explicitly for phones that used both satellite and terrestrial networks.

In 2011 the FCC granted LightSquared a waiver to allow vendors using its proposed network to sell terrestrial-only cellphones.

“In January the commission said LightSquared could use its license for exclusive terrestrial purposes,” he said.

The epoch of your life upon the earth, even the duration of terrestrial humanity, is but a moment in eternity.

"Now let us return to the Earth," she said, pointing to the spot where our terrestrial Sun had disappeared.

It is hardly more than a hundred thousand years since terrestrial humanity evolved itself from the animal chrysalis.

The Uranian soul, even during its terrestrial incarnations, lives in the world of the absolute and divine.

The elements of my Martial form do not exist in the terrestrial atmosphere, and your brain could not imagine them.

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terrepleinterrestrial globe