Terrestrial Meaning
/tɪˈɹɛstɹɪ.əl/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA ground-dwelling plant.
nounAlternative letter-case form of Terrestrial (“Inhabitant of Earth”).
Sentence Examples
The Solar System has four terrestrial or telluric planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
Pigeons can use the terrestrial magnetic field to find their way home.
The earth, because of its shape, is called the terrestrial globe.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
Unlike marine animals that live in the sea, land-dwelling creatures are called ____ species.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Biologists study ____ animals, which are those that live primarily on land rather than in the water or the air today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English terrestrialle, from terrestre or Latin terrestris, from terra (“land, earth, ground”), with the suffix -al.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"It will be manifest that natural scenery must present many beautiful varieties of effect altogether unfamiliar to us terrestrials, who know of no colours in scenery except those inherent in the objects themselves which form the landscape."
— 1873, Richard Anthony Proctor, The Expanse of Heaven, page 235:
"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:
"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:
"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:
"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:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
Unlike marine animals that live in the sea, land-dwelling creatures are called ____ species.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Biologists study ____ animals, which are those that live primarily on land rather than in the water or the air today.