An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
English-French-Persian

To alter the environment of a planet or moon in a → terraforming process in order to make it habitable for life forms.

Probably taken from noun terraform, from L. terra "earth," → terrestrial; → form.

From zamin, → earth, + disidan "to → form."

The hypothetical process of altering the environment (atmosphere, temperature, surface topography, or ecology) of another planet or moon to improve the chances of survival of an indigenous biology or to allow habitation by terrestrial life forms. See also → ecopoiesis.

Verbal noun of → terraform. The term first appeared in a science fiction novel, Seetee Shock (1949) by Jack Williamson, an American science fiction writer; but the actual concept pre-dates this work.