terra noun. ['tɛrǝ] Pl. terrae ['tɛri:, -ʌɪ]. E17.
[(Italian from) Latin, = earth.]
1. A medicinal or other earth, bole, etc. Usu. with specifying word. E17.
terra alba ['albǝ] [Latin, fem. of albus white] any of various white earths, as pipeclay, kaolin, etc.; now spec. white pulverized gypsum used in the manufacture of paper, paint, etc. terra ponderosa [pɒndǝ'rǝʊzǝ, -sa] [Latin, fem. of ponderosus heavy] barium sulphate, heavy spar. terra rossa ['rɒsǝ] [Italian, fem. of rosso red] Soil Science a reddish soil occurring on limestone in Mediterranean climates.
2. With specifying word: land, territory. E20.
terra cognita [kɒg'ni:tǝ] [Latin, fem. of cognitus known] fig. familiar territory. terra ignota [ɪg'nǝʊtǝ] [Latin, fem. of ignotus unknown] = TERRA INCOGNITA. terra irredenta [ɪrɪ'dɛntǝ] [Italian: see IRREDENTIST] = IRREDENTA.

3. (Terra.) In science fiction, the planet Earth. M20.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲