terrestrial
adjEtymology From Middle English terrestrialle, from terrestre or Latin terrestris, from terra (“land, earth, ground”), with the suffix -al.
7 senses
- 1Of or relating to the Earth or its (native) inhabitants.
- 2Of, relating to, or composed of land or earth, as…
- 3Living or growing in or on land (as opposed to other…
- 4Being composed primarily of silicate rocks or metals, as…
- 5Concerned with the world or worldly matters.
- 6Of or pertaining to the second highest degree of glory.
- 7Broadcast using radio waves as opposed to satellite or cable.
Of or relating to the Earth or its (native) inhabitants.
- Plastics are energy-rich substances, which is why many of them burn so readily. Any organism that could unlock and use that energy would do well in the Anthropocene. Terrestrial bacteria and fungi which can manage this trick are already familiar to experts in the field.2013 July 20, “Welcome to the plastisphere”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8845:
Of, relating to, or composed of land or earth, as contrasted with bodies of water, with wetlands viewed as semiaquatic environs, or with aerial or space environs.
- Near-synonyms: land (attributive), landbased, landly
- quoted in 2022, C. F. G. Clark, The Curiosities of Dudley and the Black Country […] yet this stone [Cannock] is so Sulphurious and Terrestrial, not fit to make Iron; […]
1 more example
- Microorganisms are the Cinderellas of terrestrial ecology — the majority of the Earth's biomass, yet barely catalogued.1997, “Review: Cinderella's house”, in New Scientist, number 2096:
Of plants Living or growing in or on land (as opposed to other habitats or substrates).
- a terrestrial plant
- Typically, tarantulas are either terrestrial or arboreal, but the Chilobrachys natanicharum can live in both enivronments^([sic]), the researchers said, demonstrating its adaptability.2023 September 26, Hafsa Khalil, “Electric blue tarantula species discovered in Thailand”, in CNN:
Astronomy, Natural sciences Of a planet Being composed primarily of silicate rocks or metals, as contrasted with gases, liquified gases, and dust.
- Near-synonyms: tellurian, telluric, terrene, Terran, rocky, metallic
- a terrestrial planet
Concerned with the world or worldly matters.
- Near-synonyms: worldly, sublunary
- A genius bright and base, / Of towering talents, and terrestrial aims.1744, [Edward Young], “Night the Sixth. The Infidel Reclaim’d. In Two Parts. Containing, the Nature, Proof, and Importance of Immortality. Part the First. […]”, in The Complaint: Or, Night-Thoughts on Life, Death, and Immortality, London: […] R[obert] Dodsley […], →OCLC, page 14:
Mormonism Of or pertaining to the second highest degree of glory.
- We are now living and obeying celestial laws that will make us candidates for celestial glory; or we are living terrestrial laws that will make us candidates for terrestrial glory; or telestial.1974 February, “A Sure Trumpet Sound: Quotations from President Lee”, in Ensign, page 77:
- Theirs is an everlasting terrestrial inheritance because they rejected the truth when it was offered to them in mortality.1977 August, Bruce R. McConkie, “A New Commandment: Save Thyself and Thy Kindred!”, in Tambuli, page 5:
Broadcasting, Media Broadcast using radio waves as opposed to satellite or cable.
- Derived terms
30 terms
aeroterrestrial, circumterrestrial, euterrestrial, extraterrestrial, fluvioterrestrial, hyperterrestrial, intraterrestrial, juxtaterrestrial, limnoterrestrial, nonterrestrial, preterrestrial, semiterrestrial, telestial, terrestrial albedo, terrestrial branch, Terrestrial Dynamical Time, terrestrial guenon, terrestrialism, terrestriality, terrestrialization, terrestrialize, terrestrially, terrestrial navigation, terrestrialness, terrestrial planet, terrestrial telescope, Terrestrial Time, terrestrial time, ultraterrestrial, unterrestrial