telluric

[te-loo r-ik]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR telluric ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of or relating to the earth; terrestrial.

of or proceeding from the earth or soil.

Origin of telluric

1830–40; < Latin tellūr- (stem of tellūs) earth + -ic

telluric

[te-loo r-ik]

adjective Chemistry.

of or containing tellurium, especially in the hexavalent state.

containing tellurium in a higher valence state than the corresponding tellurous compound.

Origin of telluric

First recorded in 1790–1800; tellur(ium) + -ic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for telluric

terrestrial, tellurian, terrene, carnal, corporeal, earthbound, earthen, earthy, global, human, material, mortal, mundane, physical, profane, secular, temporal, worldly, alluvial, subastral

Examples from the Web for telluric

Historical Examples of telluric

Was the phenomenon of telluric origin—Etna or an earthquake?
Castellinaria
Henry Festing Jones
Well, we are here in the stronghold of these telluric forces.
Stories by American Authors, Volume 2
Various
I have heard it ascribed to “telluric influence,” but that is a wide and vague expression.
The Inhabitants of the Philippines
Frederic H. Sawyer
Although it has but a feeble attraction for bases, telluric acid forms salts which are called tellurates.
Cooley's Practical Receipts, Volume II
Arnold Cooley
This telluric anhydride (TeO3) is entirely insoluble in water, nitric and hydrochloric acids, and alkaline solutions.
Cooley's Practical Receipts, Volume II
Arnold Cooley

British Dictionary definitions for telluric

telluric

adjective

of, relating to, or originating on or in the earth or soil; terrestrial, esp in reference to natural electrical or magnetic fields

astronomy (of spectral lines or bands) observed in the spectra of celestial objects and caused by oxygen, water vapour, and carbon dioxide in the earth's atmosphere

Word Origin for telluric

C19: from Latin tellūs the earth

telluric

adjective

of or containing tellurium, esp in a high valence state

Word Origin for telluric

C20: from tellur (ium) + -ic

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for telluric

adj.

"pertaining to Earth as a planet," 1836, from Latin tellurem "the earth" (see tellurian) + -ic.

telluric in Medicine

telluric

[tĕ-lur′ĭk]

adj.

Of or relating to Earth; terrestrial.

Derived from or containing tellurium, especially with valence 6.