terrain
Americannoun
-
a tract of land, especially as considered with reference to its natural features, military advantages, etc.
-
Geology. terrane.
noun
-
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
-
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.
"A large variety of geological terrains exists, which have been formed by many different processes. As a result, Greenland has several types of metals, minerals and gemstones," it says in a document on its website.
From Barron's
"Preliminary studies based on geological analysis of the terrain and the different layers of soil indicate the remains could be between 10,000 and 40,000 years old," the museum said in a statement.
From Barron's
The Bay Area also will be hit with gusts of wind exceeding 40 miles per hour in Big Sur and areas of higher terrain Sunday.
From Los Angeles Times
To study its terrain, scientists must rely on radar imaging capable of penetrating the cloud layer.
From Science Daily
The few remaining individuals live in barren, rugged terrain at high elevations.
From Los Angeles Times
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.
