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extraterrestrial being

extraterrestrial being

5 8.1
A living creature believed to come from another planet
  • noun
  • /ˌɛkstrətəˈrɛstrɪəl ˈbiːɪŋ/
translation icon : ser extraterrestre
  • This led us to believe that, like the genre-crossing Fastwalkers, many of our favorite soap opera characters are, in fact, extraterrestrial beings from other planets.
  • believe in extraterrestrial beings

What if the extraterrestrials were going to attack us?

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Examples

  • It will align the planets and bring them into universal harmony, allowing meaningful contact with all forms of life, from extraterrestrial beings to common household pets.

  • I don't believe in extraterrestrial beings coming down from the sky to guide the human race to an age of reawakening.

  • What if the extraterrestrials were going to attack us?

  • A flying disc is clearly noticeable, and below it is an extraterrestrial being.

    Blog text (32)
  • When extraterrestrial beings make their first appearance on our planet and ask for representatives of our species to best exemplify humanity, I'm sending a nurse, a librarian, and a firefighter.

    Blog text (14)
  • Today, for example, the United Nations includes a Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, which counts among its crowning achievements the passage of a resolution calling upon sovereign nations to report all contacts with extraterrestrial beings directly to the Secretary-General.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Millions of people around the world believe we have been visited in the past by extraterrestrial beings.

  • A distinguished scientist takes a hard look at reports of extraterrestrial beings, UFOs, and alien abductions.

  • A flying disc is clearly noticeable, and below it is an extraterrestrial being.

Synonyms

alien
vsextraterrestrial being
679 4.0

A creature from another planet often in science fiction

is the neutral term for life thought to exist beyond Earth
extraterrestrial
vsextraterrestrial being
9 8.2

A creature from another planet or outer space

emphasizes belief or assumption about such life rather than proof
cosmozoan
vsextraterrestrial being
  • Archaic
9.9

A living thing that comes from space and may bring life to Earth

covers any life assumed to exist off Earth not only seeders

Surface Forms

Morphology

extraterrestrial + being

The meaning is a straightforward combination of 'extraterrestrial' (originating beyond Earth) and 'being' (a living creature), yielding 'a life form from beyond Earth.' This is a literal, compositional phrase found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

The noun extraterrestrial being comes from two parts: extra meaning 'outside' and terrestrial meaning 'earth'. So it paints the picture of a creature from another planet, which is why it means 'a living creature from outside Earth'.