What does terrain in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word terrain in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use terrain in French.

The word terrain in French means ground, site, plot, ground, pitch, territory, ground, uneven ground, contour, lay the groundwork, lay the foundations, topography, give ground, fall back, give ground, clear the way, pave the way, clear the ground, make inroads into, clear the way, prepare the way, clear the ground, on open ground, field survey, be losing ground, be in charted territory, be in conquered territory, field experience, experience in the field, gain ground, people with hands-on experience, mudslide, hands-on person, hands-on man, hands-on woman, land survey, midfielder, midfield, take over, lose ground, lose ground, prepare the ground, lay the groundwork, reality on the ground, site survey, be on thin ice, be skating on thin ice, strut around like you own the place, test the soil, test the water, in the field, see how the land lies, building plot, buildable land, hilly land, building land, common ground, training ground, dangerous ground, dangerous terrain, minefield, basketball court, campground, camp ground, camping ground, hunting ground, area, cricket ground, football pitch, football ground, football field, golf course, playground, pitch, playground, park, pétanque strip, playing field, sports field, sports ground, tennis court, susceptibility, loose soil, military land, minefield, minefield, minefield, minefield of poo, neutral ground, waste ground, lap, cross-country, 4x4 vehicle, off-roader, field work, find some common ground, all-terrain vehicle, mountain bike. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word terrain

ground

nom masculin (terre)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les terrains volcaniques sont très fertiles.
Volcanic soil is very fertile.

site, plot

nom masculin (propriété) (building)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La nouvelle bibliothèque municipale a été construite sur un terrain de la ville.
ⓘCette phrase n'est pas une traduction de la phrase originale. They're looking for land on which to build a new family home.

ground

nom masculin (emplacement) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Cet artiste a trouvé un terrain favorable à ses créations avec cette mairie.
The artist has found fertile ground for his creations at this town hall.

pitch

nom masculin (espace de pratique sportive) (UK: rugby, soccer)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La mairie a décidé la construction d'un nouveau terrain de rugby. J'ai appelé le tennis club et j'ai réservé un terrain à 18 h. Ça te va ?
I've phoned the tennis club and booked a court for 6 pm; is that OK with you?

territory, ground

nom masculin (figuré (domaine) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Leur différend a fini sur un terrain juridique.
Their disagreement ended up in legal territory.

uneven ground

nom masculin (déformation d'un terrain, obstacle)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

contour

nom masculin (relief)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
L'érosion participe à la formation d'accidents du terrain.

lay the groundwork, lay the foundations

locution verbale (figuré (préparer [qch]) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

topography

nom féminin (relevé topographique)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

give ground, fall back

locution verbale (laisser du terrain à l'ennemi)

give ground

locution verbale (figuré (battre un peu en retraite) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

clear the way, pave the way, clear the ground

locution verbale (faire des préparatifs) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

make inroads into

locution verbale (étudier [qch] grosso modo)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

clear the way, prepare the way, clear the ground

locution verbale (figuré (préparer une opération) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

on open ground

locution adverbiale (en terrain ouvert, zone ouverte)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Il n'est pas facile pour un fantassin de progresser en terrain découvert.

field survey

nom féminin (collecte des preuves matérielles)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

be losing ground

locution verbale (reculer, céder)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Les rebelles n'ayant pas reçu de renforts, ils sont maintenant en perte de terrain.

be in charted territory

locution verbale (connaître le milieu)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

be in conquered territory

locution verbale (se comporter comme chez soi)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

field experience

nom féminin (connaissances pratiques)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

experience in the field

nom féminin (travail pratique)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

gain ground

locution verbale (progresser)

people with hands-on experience

nom masculin pluriel (gens à l'esprit pratique)

(plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.")

mudslide

nom masculin (éboulement de terre)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le chalet fut emporté par un glissement de terrain.

hands-on person, hands-on man, hands-on woman

(personne à l'esprit pratique) (informal, figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les associations caritatives ont toujours besoin d'hommes de terrain.

land survey

nom masculin (prise des cotes d'un terrain)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

midfielder

nom masculin (Sports collectifs : joueur) (player)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

midfield

nom masculin (Sports collectifs : ensemble de joueurs) (collectively)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

take over

locution verbale (se manifester avant les autres)

(phrasal verb, intransitive: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning and not taking direct object--for example, "make up" [=reconcile]: "After they fought, they made up.")

lose ground

locution verbale (course : perdre son avance)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

lose ground

locution verbale (figuré (ne plus être en tête) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

prepare the ground, lay the groundwork

locution verbale (effectuer des actions préalables) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

reality on the ground

nom féminin (contraintes opérationnelles)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

site survey

nom masculin (cotes d'un terrain)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

be on thin ice, be skating on thin ice

locution verbale (figuré (prendre un risque) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

strut around like you own the place

(se croire chez soi)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

test the soil

locution verbale (effectuer des prélèvements de terrain)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

test the water

locution verbale (figuré (tester la réceptivité à un projet) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

in the field

locution adverbiale (en pratique)

Reste à voir ce que donneront ces mesures sur le terrain.

see how the land lies

locution verbale (figuré (évaluer la situation) (colloquial)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Put out a few feelers before making a firm offer.

building plot, buildable land

nom masculin (terrain pour construire une maison)

hilly land

nom masculin (terrain non plat)

building land

nom masculin (terrain où il est permis de bâtir)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

common ground

nom masculin (compromis)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Je suis sûr que nous allons pouvoir trouver un terrain d'entente.
I'm sure we can find common ground and sort this out.

training ground

nom masculin (zone où s'entraîner) (sports)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

dangerous ground, dangerous terrain

nom masculin (zone à risque)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

minefield

nom masculin (figuré (thème à aborder avec précaution) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

basketball court

nom masculin (aire pour pratiquer le basket-ball)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

campground, camp ground, camping ground

nom masculin (zone aménagée pour camper) (US)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

hunting ground

nom masculin (zone réservée à la chasse)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

area

nom masculin (figuré (thème réservé) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le développement durable est le terrain de chasse de la nouvelle directrice.

cricket ground

nom masculin (lieu pour jouer au cricket)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

football pitch, football ground, football field

nom masculin (aire pour pratiquer le football) (UK)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Deux terrains de foot sont prévus à la sortie du village.

golf course

nom masculin (parcours de golf) (sports)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

playground

nom masculin (aire de jeux pour enfants)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les enfants se retrouvent sur le terrain de jeu après l'école.

pitch

nom masculin (Sports : aire où l'on peut jouer)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Au rugby, les lignes blanches ne font pas partie du terrain de jeu.
In rugby, the white lines are not part of the playing area.

playground

nom masculin (figuré (zone d'activité) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les salons feutrés sont le terrain de jeu préféré des diplomates.

park

nom masculin (zone pour jouer)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Dans les villes, les terrains de jeux sont souvent boisés.

pétanque strip

nom masculin (aire pour jouer à la pétanque)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

playing field, sports field, sports ground

nom masculin (espace pour le sport)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les terrains de rugby et de tennis sont des terrains de sport.

tennis court

nom masculin (aire pour pratiquer le tennis)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ce joueur préfère jouer sur les terrains de tennis en terre battue. Ce club compte trois terrains de tennis extérieurs.

susceptibility

nom masculin (prédisposition à une maladie)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

loose soil

nom masculin (sol instable)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

military land

nom masculin (terrain appartenant à l'armée)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ce site fermé est un terrain militaire.

minefield

nom masculin (zone protégée par des mines)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Entre les deux pays, il y a un terrain miné.

minefield

nom masculin (figuré (zone à éviter) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Je change de trottoir car passer devant la boulangerie, c'est un terrain miné.

minefield

nom masculin (figuré (sujet à éviter d'aborder) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il ne faut pas parler du dernier contrat, c'est un terrain miné.

minefield of poo

nom masculin (figuré (zone à déjections animales) (figurative, informal)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

neutral ground

nom masculin (lieu hors zone de conflit)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

waste ground

nom masculin (terrain abandonné, en friche)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les jeunes jouent souvent dans ce terrain vague.

lap

nom masculin (distance : tour d'un terrain de sport) (sports)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

cross-country

adjectif invariable (type de véhicule)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Les voitures tout-terrain sont pratiques à la campagne.

4x4 vehicle, off-roader

nom masculin invariable (véhicule tout-terrain)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les tout-terrain permettent l'accès aux zones difficiles.

field work

nom masculin (lieu de collecte des données)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le responsable aime sortir de son bureau pour le travail de terrain.

find some common ground

locution verbale (trouver un accord, un compromis)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Ils trouvèrent un terrain d'entente avec les voisins.

all-terrain vehicle

nom masculin (à quatre roues motrices)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Un véhicule tout-terrain permet de rouler sur des chemins difficiles.

mountain bike

nom masculin (vélo à gros pneus)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Quand je vais en forêt, je prends mon vélo tout terrain.

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