terraform

<font size="-1" face="arial, helvetica"> <p> <strong> <font color="#000066">Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 6, 2023 is:</font> </strong> </p> <p> <strong>terraform</strong> &#149; \TEH-ruh-form\&nbsp; &#149; <em>verb</em><br /> <p>To terraform something (such as a planet or moon) is to transform it so that it is suitable for supporting human life.</p> <p>// With Earth being the only <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Goldilocks">Goldilocks</a> planet within our reach, some argue that the survival of humanity depends on our ability to eventually <em>terraform</em> Mars.</p> <p><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terraform">See the entry ></a></p> </p> <p> <strong>Examples:</strong><br /> <p>“Simulation games now routinely engage with climate change, but usually from a place of wish fulfillment. Surviving Mars lets players use magical future technology to <em>terraform</em> the Red Planet into a new Eden, creating a backup home in case Earth is ravaged beyond redemption.” — Mark Hill, <em>Wired</em>, 6 Jan. 2022</p> </p> <p> <strong>Did you know?</strong><br /> <p>In the world of science fiction, life (uh) finds a way. Such is the goal of terraforming, a concept that has long served as a sci-fi staple. In fact, the word <em>terraform</em> can be traced to the genre’s <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/science-fiction/The-19th-and-early-20th-centuries">Golden Age</a>: the first known use of <em>terraform</em> was by the science fiction writer Jack Williamson who, writing under the <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pseudonym">pseudonym</a> Will Stewart, included the word in his 1942 story “Collision Orbit.” <em>Terraform</em> applies the Latin noun <em>terra</em> (“land, earth”) as a prefix to the English verb <em>form</em> (“to shape or develop”). (<em>Terra</em> is evidenced in many English words, including <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terrain"><em>terrain</em>