ENGLISH
REFERENCE

extraterrestrial

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌɛkstɹətɝˈɛstɹiəɫ// UK //ˌɛkstɹətəɹˈɛstɹɪəl// ex·trater·res·tri·al

n. a living creature that comes from a place outside of Earth, like another planet.

n. a hypothetical being originating from outside the Earth or its atmosphere.


SIMPLE

The movie is about a friendly extraterrestrial who gets lost on Earth.

CONTEXTUAL

Scientists use powerful telescopes to search for signals that might prove the existence of an extraterrestrial.

COMPLEX

While popular culture often depicts an extraterrestrial as a humanoid figure, astrobiologists suggest that alien life is more likely to be microbial.

Synonyms
Origin

From extra- + terrestrial.

Usage

Often used as an adjective to describe things related to outer space, but functions as a noun when referring to the being itself.

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