Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 6, 2023 is: terraform \TEH-ruh-form\ verb

To terraform something (such as a planet or moon) is to transform it so that it is suitable for supporting human life.

// With Earth being the only [Goldilocks](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Goldilocks) planet within our reach, some argue that the survival of humanity depends on our ability to eventually terraform Mars.

[See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terraform)

Examples:

“Simulation games now routinely engage with climate change, but usually from a place of wish fulfillment. Surviving Mars lets players use magical future technology to terraform the Red Planet into a new Eden, creating a backup home in case Earth is ravaged beyond redemption.” — Mark Hill, Wired, 6 Jan. 2022

Did you know?

In the world of science fiction, life (uh) finds a way. Such is the goal of terraforming, a concept that has long served as a sci-fi staple. In fact, the word terraform can be traced to the genre’s [Golden Age](https://www.britannica.com/art/science-fiction/The-19th-and-early-20th-centuries): the first known use of terraform was by the science fiction writer Jack Williamson who, writing under the [pseudonym](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pseudonym) Will Stewart, included the word in his 1942 story “Collision Orbit.” Terraform applies the Latin noun terra (“land, earth”) as a prefix to the English verb form (“to shape or develop”). (Terra is evidenced in many English words, including [terrain](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terrain), [terrace](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terrace), and [terra-cotta](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terra-cotta).) You may ask, “what is the future of terraforming?” Suffice it to say, we have no [earthly](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earthly) idea.