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Glite Dictionary
terra firma

terra firma

4 5.6
Solid dry land that is not the sea or air
  • noun
  • /ˈtɛrə ˈfɜrmə/
translation icon : tierra firme
  • Walking on terra firma again made him appreciate solid ground after his long flight.
  • back on terra firma
  • feet on terra firma
  • planted on terra firma

Examples

  • Calling all scientists who know more than I do, with my feet firmly planted on terra firma.

    Blog text (31)

  • Lake Erie was frozen solid, and we did not see terra firma until April, a typical Western New York winter.

    Blog text (13)

  • Give me one good night on terra firma.

    Appointment with Death (1988)

  • - Okay... when we're back on terra firma.

    Britannia Hospital (1982)

  • Reading it for me was equivalent to stepping out of a crazy fun house to terra firma and fresh air.

    Blog text (9)

  • Terra firma below me: the African coast at the mouth of the Kunene River between Namibia and Angola.

    Academic text (2001)

  • Richard Feynman (1918-1988) was a theoretical physicist with both feet planted on terra firma.

    Blog text (32)

  • Oh, I admit I might exhibit a few moments of pure lunacy now and then, but generally the McNally hooves are solidly planted on terra firma.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • After weeks on the boat, they were relieved to finally set foot on terra firma.

  • The explorers felt a sense of safety as they returned to terra firma after their adventures at sea.

Synonyms

ground
vsterra firma
∞ 1.0

The solid surface of the earth that people walk on and plants grow in

is the general idea but highlights contrast with sea or air
land
vsterra firma
∞ 1.0

An area of ground used for farming, building, or as a country

is focused on solid surface only not political or use meanings
earth
vsterra firma
363 1.0

The ground or soil under your feet

is narrower, used mainly for the solid surface not the whole planet
dry land
vsterra firma
23 1.0

The solid ground on Earth that is not under the sea

is the term that stresses being dry rather than sea or air
solid ground
vsterra firma
13 1.8

Firm land you can stand on instead of water

is broader referring generally to solid land rather than sea or air

Antonyms

air
∞ 1.0

The mixture of gases people and animals breathe

water
∞ 1.0

An area covered by water, like a river, lake, or sea

Surface Forms

terra firma singular
terra firmas plural

Morphology

terra + firma

The phrase literally combines terra (earth/land) and firma (firm), so the meaning 'solid ground' is directly derivable as ‘firm earth’. Although it is a Latin loanword pair rather than a native English compound, the composition is transparent and cross-linguistically obvious, so a learner who knows the constituent words would understand it.

Etymology

Terra firma comes from Latin words terra and firma, which mean 'earth' and 'firm'. Sailors used this phrase when they felt safe stepping onto solid land after being at sea, so today terra firma means 'dry, solid ground'.