I. ˈterəˌtōrē, -ōri, -ȯr- noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin territorium land around a town, district, territory, probably from terri- (from terra land) + -torium (as in praetorium ) — more at terrace
1.
a. : a geographical area belonging to or under the jurisdiction of a political authority
defeated the German armies on their home territory — C.E.Black & E.C.Helmreich
out-of-town police … questioned him about several similar murders in their territories — E.D.Radin
b. : an administrative subdivision of a country
the 15 republics of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics are divided into 128 territories and regions
c. : an organized portion of a country not yet admitted to statehood
Minnesota became a territory in 1849 — American Guide Series: Minnesota
Mexico is divided into 29 states, 1 federal district … and 2 territories — Statesman's Year Book
d. : a geographical area (as a colonial possession) dependent upon an external government but having some degree of autonomy
the status of France's third North African territory will be challenged — Mario Rossi
— compare trust territory
e. Scots law : the district subject to the jurisdiction of a court or judge : jurisdiction
2.
a.
(1) : a geographical area of indeterminate extent : region , tract
in Virginia … there were large territories of unsettled lands — R.B.Taney
(2) : land , terrain
without their mustangs Texas cowboys could never have covered so much territory — S.E.Fletcher
(3) : an area of specified potential
some of the state's best fish and game territory — American Guide Series: Vermont
huge accumulations of … clouds that made perfect ambush territory for pilots — Ira Wolfert
b. : an area of knowledge or special interest : field , ground
the large adjoining territories of social and economic history — Franz Philipp
that question covers a lot of territory — Magazine of Wall Street
c. : a specified area (as of the body)
stuck soda straws up each nostril … while we poured plaster over his surrounding facial territory — Beverly Smith
3. : an assigned or preempted area: as
a. : the area defended by an athletic team
a brilliant 52-yard dash … moved Ohio State from deep in its own territory into striking position — New York Times
b. : a geographic area to which a salesman or distributor confines his commercial activities
c. : the largest administrative unit of the Salvation Army usually comprising a country or group of countries
d. : an area usually including the nesting or denning site and a variable foraging range that is preempted by an individual male (as a bird or mammal) and defended against the intrusion of rival individuals — compare home range
Synonyms: see field
II. noun
or go with the territory
•
- come with the territory