territorial — relating to or belonging to a particular territory or area of land
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: relating to or belonging to a particular territory or area of land
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌterɪˈtɔːriəl/
Example Sentences
- My dog becomes very territorial when strangers approach his favorite sleeping spot on the couch.
- The chef was so territorial about his kitchen that he wouldn't even let his own mother cook there.
- The territorial claims in the South China Sea remain a source of international tension.
territorial
ADJECTIVE[/ˌterɪˈtɔːriəl/]
relating to or belonging to a particular territory or area of land
The wolves became territorial whenever another pack came too close.
The explorer became territorial after planting a flag on the newly claimed land. (TERRA = land)
The territorial guards stayed protective and authoritative along the kingdom's border.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Latin 'territorium', meaning territory or land, which is related to 'terra' (earth, land). The Romans used this term to denote marked and controlled geographical areas, a meaning preserved in modern usage to describe regions or domains.
Breakdown
territorium (territory, from terra meaning land) + -al (adjective suffix forming descriptive terms relating to a noun).
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My dog becomes very territorial when strangers approach his favorite sleeping spot on the couch.”
“The chef was so territorial about his kitchen that he wouldn't even let his own mother cook there.”
“The territorial claims in the South China Sea remain a source of international tension.”
“Birds often sing to mark their territorial boundaries during mating season.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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