terraforming

terraforming

1. present participle of terraform

terraforming (uncountable)

1. The hypothetical process of deliberately modifying the atmosphere, temperature, surface topography or ecology of a planet, moon, etc. to make it similar to those of Earth and thus suitable for human life.
   • 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, OCLC 246633669, PC, scene: Almarcrux planetary description:

     Almarcrux's abundant water and relatively mild temperature and gravity have placed it on the short list of terraforming candidate worlds. However, there is significant opposition from eco-ethics groups, who assert that Almarcrux's primitive methanotrophic bacteria may be a precursor to a full-fledged native ecology.

• terraformation
• planetary engineering

• geoengineering
• pantropy

• paraterraforming

Unadapted borrowing from English terraforming.

terraforming n (uncountable)

1. terraforming