Ter·ra n.  The earth; earth.
 Terra alba [L., white earth] Com., a white amorphous earthy substance consisting of burnt gypsum, aluminium silicate (kaolin), or some similar ingredient, as magnesia. It is sometimes used to adulterate certain foods, spices, candies, paints, etc.
 Terra cotta. [It., fr. terra earth + cotta, fem. of cotto cooked, L. coctus, p. p. of coquere to cook. See Cook, n.] Baked clay; a kind of hard pottery used for statues, architectural decorations, figures, vases, and the like.
 Terrae filius [L., son of the earth], formerly, one appointed to write a satirical Latin poem at the public acts in the University of Oxford; -- not unlike the prevaricator at Cambridge, England.
 Terra firma [L.], firm or solid earth, as opposed to water.
 Terra Japonica. [NL.] Same as Gambier. It was formerly supposed to be a kind of earth from Japan.
 Terra Lemnia [L., Lemnian earth], Lemnian earth. See under Lemnian.
 Terra ponderosa [L., ponderous earth] Min., barite, or heavy spar.
 Terra di Sienna. See Sienna.

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 Cat·e·chu n.  Chem. A dry, brown, astringent extract, obtained by decoction and evaporation from the Acacia catechu, and several other plants growing in India. It contains a large portion of tannin or tannic acid, and is used in medicine and in the arts. It is also known by the names terra japonica, cutch, gambier, etc.

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 Gam·bier n.  (a) The inspissated juice of a plant (Uncaria Gambir) growing in Malacca. It is a powerful astringent, and, under the name of Terra Japonica, is used for chewing with the Areca nut, and is exported for tanning and dyeing. (b) Catechu. [Written also gambeer and gambir.]

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