terrestrial
[ tuh-res-tree-uhl ]
/ təˈrɛs tri əl /
adjective
pertaining to, consisting of, or representing the earth as distinct from other planets.
of or relating to land as distinct from water.
Botany.
- growing on land; not aquatic.
- growing in the ground; not epiphytic or aerial.
Zoology.
living on or in the ground; not aquatic, arboreal, or aerial.
of or relating to the earth or this world; worldly; mundane.
noun
an inhabitant of the earth, especially a human being.
Origin of terrestrial
1400–50; late Middle English < Latin
terrestri(s) pertaining to earth (derivative of
terra earth) +
-al1
OTHER WORDS FROM terrestrial
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British Dictionary definitions for terrestrial
terrestrial
/ (təˈrɛstrɪəl) /
adjective
of or relating to the earth
of or belonging to the land as opposed to the sea or air
(of animals and plants) living or growing on the land
earthly, worldly, or mundane
(of television signals) sent over the earth's surface from a transmitter on land, rather than by satellite
noun
an inhabitant of the earth
Derived forms of terrestrial
terrestrially, adverb terrestrialness, nounWord Origin for terrestrial
C15: from Latin
terrestris, from
terra earth
Scientific definitions for terrestrial
terrestrial
[ tə-rĕs′trē-əl ]
Relating to Earth or its inhabitants.
Relating to, living on, or growing on land.