Terrestrial
Etymology
From Middle English terrestrialle, from terrestre or Latin terrestris, from terra (“land, earth, ground”), with the suffix -al.[1]
Noun
terrestrial (plural terrestrials)
- (botany) A ground-dwelling plant.
- Alternative letter-case form of Terrestrial
Adjective
terrestrial (not comparable)
- Of, relating to, or inhabiting the land of the Earth or its inhabitants, earthly. quotations ▼
- Of, relating to, or composed of land. quotations ▼
- Living or growing in or on land (as opposed to other habitat); not aquatic, etc.
a terrestrial plant
- (astronomy) Of a planet, being composed primarily of silicate rocks or metals; see also terrestrial planet.
- Concerned with the world or worldly matters. quotations ▼
- (Mormonism) Of or pertaining to the second highest degree of glory. quotations ▼
- (broadcasting) Broadcast using radio waves as opposed to satellite or cable.
Synonyms
- earthly
- planetary
- tellurian, telluric, Terran, terrene
- (of, relating to, or composed of land): land, landly
- (astronomy: Earth-like): telluric, rocky
- (concerned with the world): earthly, mundane, sublunary, worldly
Antonyms
- (of, made of, related to, or living or growing on land): aerial, aquatic, arboreal, epiphytic
- (concerned with the world): celestial, spiritual