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terrain definition

ter·rain (tə rān′)

noun

  1. ground or a tract of ground, esp. with regard to its natural or topographical features or fitness for some use
  2. Geol. terrane (sense )

Etymology: Fr < L terrenum < terrenus, of earth, earthen < terra, terra

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

terrain Synonyms

terrain

n.

ground, region, territory; see area 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

terrain Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • undulate: The Wall stretches more than 4,000 miles over the undulating terrain of northern China.

Preposition: for

  • skier: The massive Courchevel valley provides plenty of terrain for even novice skiers to explore with relative ease.

Adjective modifier

  • mountainous: We are ideally placed for access to some of Britain's most stunning mountainous terrain.

Modifies a noun

  • roughness: In practice there are often terrain roughness changes near the site which have an important effect on the length scales.

Noun used with modifier

  • karst: However, solution of the existing pollution problems should attract sustainable economic development compatible with the karst terrain.
terrain usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

terrain quotes

Anyone happy in this age and place Is daft or corrupt. Better to abdicate From a material and spiritual terrain Fit only for barbarians.

-Fuller, Roy Broadbent

The battle for the mind of Ronald Reagan was like the trench warfare of  World War I. Never have so many fought so hard for such barren terrain.

-Noonan, Peggy

terrain quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"terrain." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/terrain>

APA Style

terrain. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/terrain

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