terrestrial

/təˈrɛstriəl/
adjective
  1. Relating to the planet Earth or its surface.
    • The terrestrial planets include Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
    • Scientists study terrestrial ecosystems to understand life on land.
    • The telescope can observe both terrestrial and celestial objects.
  2. Living or growing on land rather than in water or air.
    • Many terrestrial animals have adapted to life in deserts.
    • Terrestrial plants have roots that anchor them in soil.
    • Frogs are amphibians, but toads are more terrestrial.
  3. Relating to television or radio broadcasting using ground-based transmitters rather than satellites or cable.
    • Some rural areas still rely on terrestrial radio for news.
    • The switch from analog to digital terrestrial broadcasting improved signal quality.
    • Terrestrial television channels are free to watch with an antenna.
Synonyms
noun
  1. An inhabitant of the planet Earth (often used in science fiction).
    • The spacecraft carried a message from terrestrials to any intelligent life it might encounter.
    • Some science fiction stories imagine a future where terrestrials colonize other planets.
    • In the movie, the aliens communicated peacefully with the terrestrials.
What does "terrestrial" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean