terrestrial

American  

[tuh-res-tree-uhl] / təˈrɛs tri əl /

adjective

1. pertaining to, consisting of, or representing the earth as distinct from other planets.

   Synonyms:

   terrene

   Antonyms:

   celestial

2. of or relating to land as distinct from water.

3. Botany.

   1. growing on land; not aquatic.

   2. growing in the ground; not epiphytic or aerial.

4. Zoology. living on or in the ground; not aquatic, arboreal, or aerial.

5. of or relating to the earth or this world; worldly; mundane.

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noun

1. an inhabitant of the earth, especially a human being.

terrestrial British  

/ təˈrɛstrɪəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the earth

2. of or belonging to the land as opposed to the sea or air

3. (of animals and plants) living or growing on the land

4. earthly, worldly, or mundane

5. (of television signals) sent over the earth's surface from a transmitter on land, rather than by satellite

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noun

1. an inhabitant of the earth

terrestrial Scientific  

/ tə-rĕs′trē-əl /

1. Relating to Earth or its inhabitants.

2. Relating to, living on, or growing on land.

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Related Words

See earthly.

Other Word Forms

• nonterrestrial adjective
• preterrestrial adjective
• superterrestrial adjective
• terrestrially adverb
• terrestrialness noun
• underterrestrial adjective
• unterrestrial adjective

Etymology

Origin of terrestrial

First recorded in 1450–1550; late Middle English from Latin terrestri(s) “pertaining to earth” (derivative of terra “earth”) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Musk believes that space-based AI computing, powered directly by the sun, will be cheaper than terrestrial data centers in just a few years.

From Barron's

Aerial and terrestrial drones have redefined the nature of war in recent years.

From Barron's

CEO Musk wants to put AI data centers in space, on the conviction that space-based AI computing could be cheaper than terrestrial AI computing in a couple of years.

From Barron's

"A lot of people think of dinosaurs as sort of the mammal equivalents in the Mesozoic era, since they're both the dominant terrestrial animals of their respective time periods," Holtz said.

From Science Daily

Researchers initially compared the specimen to the Terrestrisuchus, another early member of the crocodylomorpha group - also known for its long legs and fully terrestrial lifestyle.

From BBC