What does "terrestrial" mean?
Terrestrial: 2. Representing, or consisting of, the earth; as, a terrestrial globe. "The dark terrestrial ball." Addison.
Additional senses
- 2.Of or pertaining to the world, or to the present state; sublunary; mundane. Vain labors of terrestrial wit. Spenser. A genius bright and base, Of towering talents, and terrestrial aims. Young.
- 3.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. Woodward.
- 4.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.
- 5.An inhabitant of the earth.
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
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- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00