A terrestrial animal or plant lives on land or on the ground rather than in the sea, in trees, or in the air.
[technical]
Terrestrial and aquatic fauna may sometimes be found resting together under a loosestone.
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Terrestrial means relating to the planet Earth rather than to some other part of the universe.
...terrestrial life forms.
Synonyms: earthly, worldly, global, mundane More Synonyms of terrestrial
3. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Terrestrial television channels are transmitted using equipment situated at ground level, and not by satellite.
[British]
More Synonyms of terrestrial
terrestrial in British English
(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
noun
6.
an inhabitant of the earth
Derived forms
terrestrially (terˈrestrially)
adverb
terrestrialness (terˈrestrialness)
noun
Word origin
C15: from Latin terrestris, from terra earth
terrestrial in American English
(təˈrɛstriəl)
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
see also Jovian (sense 3)
noun
7.
an inhabitant of the earth
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈearthly
Derived forms
terrestrially (terˈrestrially)
adverb
Word origin
ME terrestrialle < L terrestris < terra, terra
Examples of 'terrestrial' in a sentence
terrestrial
We are settling into life as an extra terrestrial.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The terrestrial broadcasters grew up controlling both their message and their means of distribution.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
There is some furious lobbying going on by the main terrestrial broadcasters to change government policy.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
What the terrestrial channels have done is to divert resources to their portfolios of digital channels.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The series may also be sold to terrestrial commercial broadcasters.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Some think the main terrestrial broadcasters have no automatic right to the extra capacity.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Live football on terrestrial channels is largely unchanged.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The cost structure of terrestrial broadcasters will favour them in this competition.
Collins, Richard Television - policy and culture (1990)
It has now begun working with terrestrial broadcasters and production companies.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Arrive dressed as an extra terrestrial and you'll get in free.
The Sun (2009)
An indigenous new comedy on a mainstream terrestrial channel, it was perfect.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The main terrestrial channels are now permitted to screen a total of 12 minutes of commercials an hour.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
A terrestrial broadcaster willing to sit alongside the sport and promote it is a massive positive.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The geographical proximity of European countries has permitted fewer channels for terrestrial broadcast services in a single country than elsewhere.
Collins, Richard Television - policy and culture (1990)
This device has probably the widest range of options for streaming, including apps from all the main terrestrial broadcasters.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
With terrestrial channels they might just watch it because it's on the main channels and they stumbled upon it.
The Sun (2012)
He's like an extra terrestrial.
The Sun (2015)
With the death of the plants the terrestrial food chain would collapse, and complex life would be wiped from the land.
Oliver Morton Eating the Sun: How Plants Power the Planet (2007)
It was the most watched show of the day, and often had more viewers than all the other terrestrial channels combined.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
What then would be the minimum modifications that would have to be imposed upon terrestrial life to enable us to make good nature's lack?
Dyson, Freeman Infinite in All Directions (1989)
The last time that a terrestrial broadcaster bid for cricket was after the 2005 Ashes series.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
If life on Europa is found to be biologically akin to terrestrial life, the cosmic origin of all life will be firmly established.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
terrestrial
British English: terrestrial ADJECTIVE
A terrestrial animal or plant lives on land or on the ground rather than in the sea, in trees, or in the air.
...terrestrial and aquatic fauna.
American English: terrestrial
Brazilian Portuguese: terrestre
Chinese: 地球的
European Spanish: terrestre
French: terrestre
German: Land-
Italian: terrestre
Japanese: 地球の
Korean: 지구의
European Portuguese: terrestre
Latin American Spanish: terrestre
All related terms of 'terrestrial'
terrestrial planet
Astronomy See inner planet
terrestrial coverage
The coverage of something in the news is the reporting of it.
terrestrial guidance
a method of missile or rocket guidance in which the flight path is controlled by reference to the strength and direction of the earth's gravitational or magnetic field
terrestrial telescope
a telescope for use on earth rather than for making astronomical observations . Such telescopes contain an additional lens or prism system to produce an erect image
terrestrial television
Television is the system of sending pictures and sounds by electrical signals over a distance so that people can receive them on a television in their home .
extraterrestrial
Extraterrestrial means happening , existing, or coming from somewhere beyond the planet Earth .
North Pole
The North Pole is the place on the surface of the earth which is farthest towards the north.
South Pole
The South Pole is the place on the surface of the earth which is farthest towards the south.
(adjective)
Definition
of the planet earth
terrestrial life forms
Synonyms
earthly
They lived in an earthly paradise.
worldly
It is time you woke up and focused your thoughts on more worldly matters.
global
mundane
spiritual immortals who had transcended the mundane world
sublunary
tellurian
terrene
(noun)
Synonyms
earthling
human
earthman
earthwoman
Additional synonyms
in the sense of mundane
Definition
relating to the world or worldly matters
spiritual immortals who had transcended the mundane world
Synonyms
earthly,
worldly,
human,
material,
fleshly,
secular,
mortal,
terrestrial,
temporal,
sublunary
in the sense of worldly
Definition
not spiritual
It is time you woke up and focused your thoughts on more worldly matters.