terrain
pronunciation
How to pronounce terrain in British English:
UK [təˈreɪn]
How to pronounce terrain in American English:
US [təˈreɪn]
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- Noun:
- a piece of ground having specific characteristics or military potential
Word Origin
- terrain (n.)
- 1727, "ground for training horses," from French terrain "piece of earth, ground, land," from Old French (12c.), from Vulgar Latin *terranum, from Latin terrenum "land, ground," noun use of neuter of terrenus "of earth, earthly," from terra "earth, land," literally "dry land" (as opposed to "sea"); from PIE root *ters- "to dry" (cognates: Sanskrit tarsayati "dries up," Avestan tarshu- "dry, solid," Greek teresesthai "to become or be dry," Latin torrere "dry up, parch," Gothic þaursus "dry, barren," Old High German thurri, German dürr, Old English þyrre "dry;" Old English þurstig "thirsty"). Meaning "tract of country, considered with regard to its natural features" first attested 1766.
Example
- 1. Rough terrain and local bureaucracy are obstacles to drawing capital .
- 2. Metsamor lies on some of earth 's most earthquake-prone terrain .
- 3. Kelley mcdonald has always loved exploring new terrain .
- 4. In the rugby heartland of southwest france , the terrain is rugged and the weather fickle .
- 5. The towering peaks of the himalayas provide an illustration of the strengths of the new model in measuring steep terrain .