Terrestrial might be a pretty down-to-earth word, but some of its relatives are out of this world. "Terrestrial" first appeared in English in the 15th century and derives from the Latin root terra, …

TERRESTRIAL definition: 1. relating to the earth 2. (of a planet) similar to Earth: 3. (of animals) living on the land…. Learn more.

Definition of terrestrial adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

TERRESTRIAL definition: pertaining to, consisting of, or representing the earth as distinct from other planets. See examples of terrestrial used in a sentence.

terrestrial (təˈrɛstrɪəl) adj 1. of or relating to the earth 2. of or belonging to the land as opposed to the sea or air

A terrestrial animal or plant lives on land or on the ground rather than in the sea, in trees, or in the air.

Dec 14, 2025 · terrestrial (not comparable) Of, relating to, or inhabiting the land of the Earth or its inhabitants, earthly. quotations

There are 15 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word terrestrial, two of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

The goat is a terrestrial animal. Terrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, chickens, ants, most spiders), as compared with aquatic animals (e.g., fish, …

TERRESTRIAL meaning: 1 : relating to or occurring on the earth; 2 : living or growing on land instead of in water or air