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
Explanation
An ATV, or all-terrain vehicle, is useful for people who drive on lots of different terrain, hence the name. Terrain is a noun used to talk about the ground, when you're specifically interested in how it appears or is shaped. In times of war, you'll often hear the term "hostile terrain" used to describe a region with lots of mountains, vast stretches of desert, or impenetrable jungles. These are all areas of difficult terrain that are hard to pass. Much of humankind's history can be traced by its effort to alter the terrain. We've made mountains into meadows, rivers into lakes, and prairies into roads, all to make the terrain more livable for us. You could even go so far as to say that a person's psyche is mysterious terrain.
Vocabulary lists containing terrain
List 8
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Physical Geography - Introductory
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Elements of the Universe: Terr, Terra ("Earth")
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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.
Outflow channels on Mars are often associated with so-called chaotic terrain, landscapes filled with broken blocks, ridges, and irregular mounds of rock.
From Science Daily • May 15, 2026
Scientists think this type of terrain formed when underground ice began melting.
From Science Daily • May 15, 2026
Jessica Curl, 47, remembers growing up nearby “in a terrain of trunks” as trucks carried out logs.
From Los Angeles Times • May 10, 2026
The 22-mile event began in 1980 after a pub chat discussing whether man or horse was faster crossing mountainous terrain.
From BBC • May 10, 2026
On the fourth day, I noticed something about the terrain.
From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman
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.
