terranium

Noun

terranium (countable and uncountable, plural terraniums)

1. A (fictional) element, especially a metal.
   • They were built of terranium, a superhard metallic material that had the ability to feed on the earthy crust, making it amenable to growing fauna.2002, Mack Maloney, The Fourth Empire, Speaking Volumes, →ISBN, page 88
   • How might an environmental regulatory system operate in order to control the risks associated with terranium? What standards might be applied and what regulatory instruments used? What further information about terranium would you want ...?2013, Stuart Bell, Donald McGillivray, Ole Pedersen, Environmental Law, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 267
2. (nonstandard) A terrarium.
   • Build a terranium, if you wish. That is, let the boys build it. Don't do the work yourself, for half the interest is in making the thing. Have the boys bring an old berry crate; cut out the slats and take off the top; cover it with fine wire netting […] Put in one or two small plants or shrubs for...1909 September, B. H. Crocheron, "Hints for Neighborhood Co-operation", in "The Rural School", in the Atlantic Educational Journal, volume 5,, page 23
   • A terranium which has a bog environment contains various species of snakes, frogs, turtles and salamanders and a bio-temperature incubator where such variables as temperature and humidity may be controlled for experiments.1967, William George Bruce, William Conrad Bruce, The American School Board Journal