terrestrial

Terrestrial means relating to the earth or those who live there.

(adjective)

An example of a terrestrial being is an animal.

The definition of a terrestrial is someone who lives on Earth.

(noun)

An example of a terrestrial is a person who lives on the planet.

YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2013 by LoveToKnow Corp.

See terrestrial in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

  1. of this world; worldly; earthly; mundane
  2. of, constituting, or representing the earth: a terrestrial globe
  3. consisting of land as distinguished from water
  4. living on land rather than in water, in the air, in trees, etc.
  5. growing on land or in the soil
  6. of the four small, rocky inner planets of the solar system, specif. Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars

Origin: ME terrestrialle < L terrestris < terra, terra

noun

an inhabitant of the earth

Related Forms:

See terrestrial in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective
  1. Of or relating to the earth or its inhabitants.
  2. Having a worldly, mundane character or quality.
  3. Of, relating to, or composed of land.
  4. Biology Living or growing on land; not aquatic: a terrestrial plant or animal.
noun
An inhabitant of the earth.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Latin terrestris

Origin: , from terra, earth; see ters- in Indo-European roots

.

Related Forms:

  • ter·resˈtri·al·ly adverb
  • ter·resˈtri·al·ness noun

Learn more about terrestrial

link/cite print suggestion box