terraform

American  

[ter-uh-fawrm] / ˈtɛr əˌfɔrm /

verb (used with object)

1. to alter the environment of (a celestial body) in order to make capable of supporting terrestrial life forms.

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Usage

What does terraform mean? Terraform means to change the environment of a planet to make it like Earth or at least make it able to support life like Earth does. The idea of terraforming a planet (or another celestial body, like a moon) so humans and other life forms could survive there was originally just the stuff of science fiction. However, it is now sometimes the subject of serious scientific consideration, especially the possibility of terraforming Mars for human habitation. Example: Some theorists think humanity could develop the technology to terraform Mars, but others think it’s simply impossible.

Etymology

Origin of terraform

1975–80; terra + form; perhaps taken as v. use of an adj. with -form as second element

Example Sentences

“It would be far, far easier and cheaper to ‘terraform’ the deserts on our own planet than to terraform Mars.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 16, 2024

The group’s co-founder and president, Robert Zubrin, extolled the virtues of sending humans to Mars to terraform the planet and establish a human colony.

From Salon • Nov. 27, 2023

But the shadow cast by BuzzFeed —a company that helped terraform today’s digital media landscape—looms large over Smith’s beat, and it’s not easy to get out from under it.

From Slate • Oct. 15, 2021

We didn’t address what technology might be used, but Elon Musk has suggested, for example, that we could terraform Mars simply by exploding nuclear bombs over the polar caps.

From Scientific American • Aug. 27, 2018

Some have even suggested that future technology might allow us to terraform Mars—that is, to engineer its atmosphere and climate in ways that might make the planet more hospitable for long-term human habitation.

From Textbooks • Oct. 13, 2016