ETYM Latin territorium, from terra the earth: cf. French territoire. Related to Terrace.
1. A territorial possession controlled by a ruling state; SYN. dominion, territorial dominion, province, mandate, colony.
2. An area of knowledge or interest.
In animal behavior, a fixed area from which an animal or group of animals excludes other members of the same species. Animals may hold territories for many different reasons; for example, to provide a constant food supply, to monopolize potential mates, or to ensure access to refuges or nest sites.
The size of a territory depends in part on its function: some nesting and mating territories may be only a few square meters, whereas feeding territories may be as large as hundreds of square kilometers.