ENGLISH
REFERENCE

terrestrial

adj.
C1 Advanced US //tɝˈɛstɹiəɫ// UK //təɹˈɛstɹɪəl// ter·res·tri·al

adj. relating to the earth or dry land rather than the sea, the air, or outer space.

adj. relating to the earth or its inhabitants; specifically living or growing on land rather than in water or the atmosphere.


SIMPLE

Scientists are searching for terrestrial life on other planets.

CONTEXTUAL

The species is primarily terrestrial, though it occasionally enters shallow water to hunt for small fish.

COMPLEX

While some signals are transmitted via satellite, terrestrial broadcasting relies on a network of ground-based towers to reach local receivers.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English terrestrialle, from terrestre or Latin terrestris, from terra (“land, earth, ground”), with the suffix -al.

Usage

Commonly used in scientific contexts to distinguish land-based phenomena from aquatic or celestial ones.

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