terr-, terra-, -ter +

1. The status of a territory.
2. A behavior pattern in animals consisting of the occupation and defense of a territory.

The behavior pattern in some animals in which they tend to remain within a certain area, primarily for the purpose of feeding, mating, and rearing their young; typically, this area is defended against members of the same species and also sometimes with other similar species.

1. To make a territory of; to organize as a territory.
2. To extend by adding new territory.
3. To reduce to the status of a territory.

1. Referring to a territory.
2. In a territorial manner.
3. Protecting one's territory.
4. Displaying territoriality; such as, defending a territory from intruders.

Inland and coastal waters under the jurisdiction of a nation or state, especially the ocean waters within three or twelve miles (4.8 or 19.3 kilometers) of the shoreline.

1. An area of land; a region.
2. The land and waters under the jurisdiction of a government.
3. A political subdivision of a country; a geographic region; such as, a colonial possession, that is dependent on an external government; such as, the territories of the Holy Roman Empire.
4. A subdivision of the United State that is not a state and is administered by an appointed or elected governor and elected legislature; a similarly organized political subdivision of Canada or Australia.
5. An area for which a person is responsible as a representative or an agent; such as, a salesperson's territory.
6. In biology, an area occupied by a single animal, mating pair, or group and often vigorously defended against intruders, especially those of the same species.
7. About 1432, "land under the jurisdiction of a town, state, etc.", probably from Latin territorium "land around a town, domain, district", from terra "earth, land".

An alternate theory, somewhat supported by the vowels of the original Latin word, suggests derivation from terrere "to frighten"; as in terrible; therefore, territorium would mean "a place from which people are warned off".

The meaning of "any tract of land, district, region" is first indicated in 1610. Specific U.S. sense of "organized self-governing region not yet a state" is from 1799. Territorial waters is traced back to 1841; territorial imperative "animal need to claim and defend territory" is recorded from 1966.

1. A large deep serving dish with a cover; for serving soups and stews from earlier terrene.
2. About 1706, from French terrine "earthen vessel", from Old French therine (1412), from terrin (adj) "earthen", from Gallo-Romance terrinus, from Latin terrenus "of the earth".

The spelling with u may be an everyday equivalent to e before r and is said to have arisen in cookbooks.