territorial
adjective/ˌterəˈtɔːriəl/
/ˌterəˈtɔːriəl/
- [usually before noun] connected with the land or sea that is owned by a particular country
- territorial disputes
- Both countries feel they have territorial claims to (= have a right to own) the islands.
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- (of animals, birds, etc.) guarding and defending an area of land that they believe to be their own
- territorial instincts
- Cats are very territorial.
Word Originearly 17th cent.: from late Latin territorialis, from Latin territorium, from terra ‘land’.
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territorial