terrain (N. American terrane) An area of ground with a particular physical character; an area or region with a characteristic geology, e.g. ‘metamorphic terrain’. Many British authors now use the ‘terrane’ spelling, except for ‘terrain correction’ (see TOPOGRAPHIC CORRECTION) and when used in the sense of such expressions as ‘rough terrain’, i.e. when not meaning ‘displaced microcontinent’. Compare TERRANE.

ter·rain / təˈrān/ • n. 1. a stretch of land, esp. with regard to its physical features: they were delayed by rough terrain.2. Geol. variant form of terrane.

terrain(N. American terrane) An area of ground with a particular physical character; an area or region with a characteristic geology (e.g. metamorphic terrain). Many British authors now use the ‘terrane’ spelling, except for ‘terrain correction’ and when the word is used in the sense of such expressions as ‘rough terrain’.

terrain XVIII. — F. — pop. L. *terrānum, var. of L. terrénum TERRENE.