terrestrial planet

American  

[tuh-res-tree-uhl plan-it] / təˈrɛs tri əl ˈplæn ɪt /

noun

Astronomy.

1. a planet composed mostly of metals or silica rocks: in our solar system, the terrestrial planets are the four inner planets.

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terrestrial planet Scientific  

1. See inner planet

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Etymology

Origin of terrestrial planet

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

"This is a terrestrial planet that I would describe as Io on steroids," Kane said.

From Science Daily • May 9, 2024

It is interesting when you think about it that we are the only terrestrial planet with a big moon.

From Salon • Oct. 13, 2019

Until now geophysicists have really only studied one active terrestrial planet up close—Earth.

From Scientific American • Nov. 14, 2017

Anglada-Escudé and his colleagues estimate that Proxima b is at least 1.3 times as big as Earth and is most likely a terrestrial planet, with a surface.

From The New Yorker • Aug. 24, 2016

Our terrestrial planet is in constant increase by meteoric dust, moving to it through endless time out of infinite space.

From Plato and Platonism by Pater, Walter