2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Terrestrial television channels are transmitted using equipment situated at ground level, and not by satellite. [BRIT ]
ter|ri|ble ◆◆◇ /te r I b ə l/
1 ADJ A terrible experience or situation is very serious or very unpleasant. □ Tens of thousands more suffered terrible injuries in the world's worst industrial disaster. □ I often have the most terrible nightmares. ● ter|ri|bly ADV [ADV after v] □ My son has suffered terribly. He has lost his best friend.
2 ADJ If something is terrible , it is very bad or of very poor quality. □ She admits her French is terrible.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] You use terrible to emphasize the great extent or degree of something. [EMPHASIS ] □ I was a terrible fool, you know. I remember that now. ● ter|ri|bly ADV [usu ADV adj] □ I'm terribly sorry to bother you at this hour. SYNONYMS terrible ADJ 1
awfuclass="underline" Even if the weather's awful there's lots to do.
appalling: They have been living under the most appalling conditions.
dreadfuclass="underline" They told us the dreadful news.
horrendous: He described it as the most horrendous experience of his life.
ter|ri|er /te riə r / (terriers )
1 N‑COUNT A terrier is a small breed of dog. There are many different types of terrier.
2 → see also bull terrier , pit bull terrier
ter|rif|ic /tər I f I k/
1 ADJ If you describe something or someone as terrific , you are very pleased with them or very impressed by them. [INFORMAL ] □ What a terrific idea! □ Everybody there was having a terrific time.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Terrific means very great in amount, degree, or intensity. [EMPHASIS ] □ All of a sudden there was a terrific bang and a flash of smoke. ● ter|rifi|cal|ly /tər I f I kli/ ADV [usu ADV adj/-ed] □ …the only child of terrifically repressed parents.
ter|ri|fy /te r I fa I / (terrifies , terrifying , terrified ) VERB If something terrifies you, it makes you feel extremely frightened. □ [V n] Flying terrifies him. ● ter|ri|fied ADJ [ADJ that, ADJ to-inf] □ [+ of ] He was terrified of heights. □ She was terrified that Ronnie would kidnap Sam.
ter|ri|fy|ing /te r I fa I I ŋ/ ADJ [oft ADJ to-inf] If something is terrifying , it makes you very frightened. □ I still find it terrifying to find myself surrounded by large numbers of horses.
ter|ri|to|rial /te r I tɔː riəl/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Territorial means concerned with the ownership of a particular area of land or water. □ It is the only republic which has no territorial disputes with the others.
2 ADJ If you describe an animal or its behaviour as territorial , you mean that it has an area which it regards as its own, and which it defends when other animals try to enter it. □ Two cats or more in one house will also exhibit territorial behaviour.
Te r|ri|to|rial A rmy N‑PROPER The Territorial Army is a British armed force whose members are not professional soldiers but train as soldiers in their spare time.
te r|ri|to|rial wa |ters N‑PLURAL A country's territorial waters are the parts of the sea close to its coast which are recognized by international agreement to be under its control, especially with regard to fishing rights.
ter|ri|tory ◆◆◇ /te rətri, [AM ] -tɔːri/ (territories )
1 N‑VAR Territory is land which is controlled by a particular country or ruler. □ The government denies that any of its territory is under rebel control. □ …Russian territory.
2 N‑COUNT A territory is a country or region that is controlled by another country. □ He toured some of the disputed territories now under U.N. control.
3 N‑UNCOUNT You can use territory to refer to an area of knowledge or experience. □ Following the futuristic The Handmaid's Tale, her next novel returned to more familiar territory.
4 virgin territory → see virgin
5 N‑VAR An animal's territory is an area which it regards as its own and which it defends when other animals try to enter it.
6 N‑UNCOUNT [usu adj N ] Territory is land with a particular character. □ …mountainous territory. □ …a vast and uninhabited territory.
7 PHRASE If you say that something comes with the territory , you mean that you accept it as a natural result of the situation you are in. □ You can't expect not to have a debate; that's what comes with the territory in a democracy. SYNONYMS territory NOUN 1
district: …the home of the governor of the district.
area: If there is an election in your area, you should go and vote.
land: …this land of free speech.
region: …a remote mountain region.
ter|ror /te rə r / (terrors )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Terror is very great fear. □ I shook with terror whenever I was about to fly in an aeroplane.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Terror is violence or the threat of violence, especially when it is used for political reasons. □ The bomb attack on the capital could signal the start of a pre-election terror campaign.
3 N‑COUNT A terror is something that makes you very frightened. □ [+ of ] As a boy, he had a real terror of facing people. □ [+ of ] …the terrors of violence.
4 N‑COUNT If someone describes a child as a terror , they think that he or she is naughty and difficult to control. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ He was a terror. He had been a difficult child for as long as his parents could remember.