terrain
Americannoun
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a tract of land, especially as considered with reference to its natural features, military advantages, etc.
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Geology. terrane.
noun
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ground or a piece of ground, esp with reference to its physical character or military potential
radio reception can be difficult in mountainous terrain
a rocky terrain
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a variant spelling of terrane
Etymology
Origin of terrain
1720–30; < French ≪ Vulgar Latin *terrānum, noun use of neuter of *terrānus of land. See terra, -an
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He turned to terrain and troop strength and strategic objectives.
From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026
Hundreds of police have pursued Freeman through the region's rugged terrain over the past seven months, pouring resources into one of Australia's largest manhunts.
From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026
The terrain might look dry, dusty and seems rather barren, but it's far from that.
From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026
To navigate this terrain, some companies plan to lower prices, while others have focused on making pricey products worth the price.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026
The terrain was flat with acacia trees, small bushes, and a few rocks that increased as we went farther into the lowlands.
From "Facing the Lion" by Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton and Herman Viola
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
