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.
The service warns of minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas, as well as minor mudslides and debris flows, especially near steep terrain and recent burn scars.
From Los Angeles Times
Similarly, veteran hiker George Rojas, 53, said some people unfamiliar with the terrain will take Devil’s Backbone because it’s not as steep as Baldy Bowl.
From Los Angeles Times
None of that happened in the Palisades, with its hilly terrain covered in bone-dry brush, even though the weather service had flagged it as one of the regions at “extreme risk.”
From Los Angeles Times
On Earth, tectonic forces constantly reshape the landscape, creating mountains, valleys, and varied terrain that guide water flow and link river systems together.
From Science Daily
Local media outlet Peru21 reports that "hundreds" of tourists remain at the scene awaiting evacuation, which has been "hampered" by difficult terrain around the crash site.
From BBC
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.
