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terrestrial
7 dictionary results for: terrestrial
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
ter·res·tri·al       [tuh-res-tree-uhl] Pronunciation Key
–adjective
1.pertaining to, consisting of, or representing the earth as distinct from other planets.
2.of or pertaining to land as distinct from water.
3.Botany.
a.growing on land; not aquatic.
b.growing in the ground; not epiphytic or aerial.
4.Zoology. living on or in the ground; not aquatic, arboreal, or aerial.
5.of or pertaining to the earth or this world; worldly; mundane.
–noun
6.an inhabitant of the earth, esp. a human being.

[Origin: 1400–50; late ME < L terrestri(s) pertaining to earth (deriv. of terra earth) + -al1]

ter·res·tri·al·ly, adverb

1. terrene. See earthly.
1. celestial.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
ter·res·tri·al       (tə-rěs'trē-əl)  Pronunciation Key 
adj.  
  1. Of or relating to the earth or its inhabitants.
  2. Having a worldly, mundane character or quality.
  3. Of, relating to, or composed of land.
  4. Biology Living or growing on land; not aquatic: a terrestrial plant or animal.

n.   An inhabitant of the earth.


[Middle English, from Latin terrestris, from terra, earth; see ters- in Indo-European roots.]

ter·res'tri·al·ly adv., ter·res'tri·al·ness n.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
terrestrial 
1432, from L. terrestris "earthly," from terra "earth" (see terrain). Originally opposed to celestial; natural history sense of "living on land" is attested from 1638. The noun meaning "a human being, a mortal" is recorded from 1598.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
terrestrial

adjective
1. of or relating to or inhabiting the land as opposed to the sea or air [syn: tellurian
2. of or relating to or characteristic of the planet Earth or its inhabitants; "planetary rumblings and eructations"- L.C.Eiseley ; "the planetary tilt"; "this terrestrial ball" [syn: planetary
3. operating or living or growing on land [ant: amphibious, aquatic
4. concerned with the world or worldly matters; "mundane affairs"; "he developed an immense terrestrial practicality" [syn: mundane
5. of this earth; "transcendental motives for sublunary actions"; "fleeting sublunary pleasures"; "the nearest to an angelic being that treads this terrestrial ball" [syn: sublunar

The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
terrestrial       (tə-rěs'trē-əl)  Pronunciation Key 
  1. Relating to Earth or its inhabitants.
  2. Relating to, living on, or growing on land.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Terrestrial

Ter*res"tri*al\, a. [L. terrestris, from terra the earth. See Terrace.]

1. Of or pertaining to the earth; existing on the earth; earthly; as, terrestrial animals. "Bodies terrestrial." --1 Cor. xv. 40.

2. Representing, or consisting of, the earth; as, a terrestrial globe. "The dark terrestrial ball." --Addison.

3. Of or pertaining to the world, or to the present state; sublunary; mundane.

Vain labors of terrestrial wit. --Spenser.

A genius bright and base, Of towering talents, and terrestrial aims. --Young.

4. Consisting of land, in distinction from water; belonging to, or inhabiting, the land or ground, in distinction from trees, water, or the like; as, terrestrial serpents.

The terrestrial parts of the globe. --Woodward.

5. Adapted for the observation of objects on land and on the earth; as, a terrestrial telescope, in distinction from an astronomical telescope. -- Ter*res"tri*al*ly, adv. -- Ter*res"tri*al*ness, n.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Terrestrial

Ter*res"tri*al\, n. An inhabitant of the earth.

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