Word
terrestrial
Phoneticster·res·tri·al, stress on the second syllable
US/tɝˈɛstɹiəɫ/
UK/təɹˈɛstɹɪəl/
Definitions
01relating to planet Earth
C1 · Advanced Science Academic
adj. relating to the planet Earth rather than other planets or space.
adj. pertaining to the planet Earth as a physical or astronomical entity.
“Scientists are looking for terrestrial planets that might support life like ours.”
“The probe was designed to measure terrestrial magnetism before exiting the atmosphere to study the solar wind.”
Usage
Usually placed before the noun.
Antonyms
02living on land
C1 · Advanced Science Technical
adj. living or growing on land instead of in water or in the air.
adj. living or growing on the ground or in soil as opposed to being aquatic, arboreal, or epiphytic.
Español:terrestre
“The island is home to several unique terrestrial birds that cannot fly.”
“The study compares the metabolic rates of aquatic mammals with those of their terrestrial relatives to understand heat conservation.”
Usage
Commonly used in biology and ecology.
Synonyms
03ground-based broadcasting
B2 · Upper Intermediate Computing British English
adj. describing television or radio signals sent from the ground rather than by satellite.
adj. relating to the transmission of television or radio signals via ground-based stations rather than satellite or cable.
“You don't need a satellite dish to watch terrestrial television.”
“The government announced a plan to switch off the old terrestrial signal in favour of a fully digital network.”
Usage
Often used in the context of media and telecommunications.
Synonyms
Antonyms
04an inhabitant of Earth
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Humorous · Literary
n. a person or creature that lives on the planet Earth.
n. an inhabitant of the planet Earth, often used in contrast to hypothetical aliens.
“In the movie, the aliens were surprised by the strange habits of terrestrials.”
“The novelist explores the philosophical implications of a first contact between advanced civilizations and unsuspecting terrestrials.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“A wide range of predators hunted on the lake's shores, including anacondas, saber-toothed mammals, flightless "terror birds" and sebecids—terrestrial relatives of crocodylians.” “This beetle feeds primarily on terrestrial snails and has diversified into eight subspecies.” “Analyses could distinguish whether Mars’s moons formed from a giant impact or captured asteroids, informing models of volatile and organic-material delivery to terrestrial planets.” “Had it bypassed “all the terrestrial stages of development – that is to say, the emergence of protozoa and metazoa, plant and animal evolution” – yet still managed to become intelligent?” Etymology
From Middle English terrestrialle, from terrestre or Latin terrestris, from terra (“land, earth, ground”), with the suffix -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/terrestrial
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0