terrarium

American  

[tuh-rair-ee-uhm] / təˈrɛər i əm /

noun

plural

terrariums, terraria

1. a vivarium for land animals (aquarium ).

2. a glass container, chiefly or wholly enclosed, for growing and displaying plants.

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terrarium British  

/ tɛˈrɛərɪəm /

noun

1. an enclosure for keeping small land animals

2. a glass container, often a globe, in which plants are grown

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Etymology

Origin of terrarium

First recorded in 1885–90; terr(a) + -arium

Compare meaning

How does terrarium compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• vivarium vs. terrarium

Example Sentences

The American remake of “The Office” transformed the blank environs of an office supplies wholesaler into an adorable terrarium.

From Salon

She wanted a big rose garden inside her house, he said, “and it was almost like a terrarium. It was gorgeous when it bloomed.”

From Los Angeles Times

If you’re not blown away by the nostalgia terrarium that is “Five Minutes,” you may find “Written By: A Week Inside the SNL Writers Room” has the gravitas you want.

From Salon

She wasn't interested to know that Clyde, appraising us from his teeny terrarium, was a near-doppelgänger for the 16 1/2-year-old companion I had lost a few months before.

From Salon

To do so, the researchers fed the terrariums with half a teaspoon of fruit flies and recorded their hunting.

From Science Daily