Etymology : Middle English, from Latin terrestris, from terra earth; more at TERRACE
Pronunciation : t&-'res-t(r)E-&l; -'re
Function : adjective
Date : 15th century
1. of or relating to land (as opposed to water), earthly; of this world, temporal, mundane. terrestrial\ter*res"tri*al\ , a. [l. terrestris, from terra the earth. see:
terrace.].
2. of or pertaining to the earth; existing on the earth; earthly; as, terrestrial animals. "bodies terrestrial." xv.
3. 2. representing, or consisting of, the earth; as, a terrestrial globe. "the dark terrestrial ball.".
4. of or pertaining to the world, or to the present state; sublunary; mundane. vain labors of terrestrial wit. a genius bright and base, of towering talents, and terrestrial aims.
5. consisting of land, in distinction from water; belonging to, or inhabiting, the land or ground, in distinction from trees, water, or the like; as, terrestrial serpents. the terrestrial parts of the globe.
6. adapted for the observation of objects on land and on the earth; as, a terrestrial telescope, in distinction from an astronomical telescope. -- ter*res"tri*al*ly , adv. -- ter*res"tri*al*ness , n.terrestrial \ter*res"tri*al\, n. an inhabitant of the earth.terrestrial adj.
7. of or relating to or inhabiting the land as opposed to the sea or air [syn: tellurian, telluric, terrene].
8. of or relating to or characteristic of the planet earth or its inhabitants; "planetary rumblings and eructations"- l.c.eiseley ; "the planetary tilt"; "this terrestrial ball" [syn: planetary].
9. operating or living or growing on land [syn: land(a) ] [ant: amphibious, aquatic].
10. concerned with the world or worldly matters; "mundane affairs"; "he developed an immense terrestrial practicality" [syn: mundane].
11. of this earth; "transcendental motives for sublunary actions"; "fleeting sublunary pleasures"; "the nearest to an angelic being that treads this terrestrial ball" [syn: sublunar, sublunary].
12. Of or pertaining to the earth; existing on the earth; earthly; as, terrestrial animals.
13. Representing, or consisting of, the earth; as, a terrestrial globe.
14. Of or pertaining to the world, or to the present state; sublunary; mundane.
15. Consisting of land, in distinction from water; belonging to, or inhabiting, the land or ground, in distinction from trees, water, or the like; as, terrestrial serpents.
16. Adapted for the observation of objects on land and on the earth; as, a terrestrial telescope, in distinction from an astronomical telescope.
17. An inhabitant of the earth. operating or living or growing on land.
18. 1. Terrestrial means relating to the planet Earth rather than to some other part of the universe. terrestrial life forms.
19. Terrestrial television channels are transmitted using equipment situated at ground level, and not by satellite.