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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

earth       (ûrth)  Pronunciation Key  (click for larger image in new window) n.   The land surface of the world. The softer, friable part of land; soil, especially productive soil. Worldly affairs and pursuits. Everyday life; reality: was brought back to earth from his daydreams of wealth and fame. often Earth The third planet from the sun, having a sidereal period of revolution about the sun of 365.26 days at a mean distance of approximately 149 million kilometers (92.96 million miles), an axial rotation period of 23 hours 56.07 minutes, an average radius of 6,378 kilometers (3,963 miles), and a mass of approximately 5.974 × 1024 kilograms (1.317 × 1025 pounds). The realm of mortal existence; the temporal world. The human inhabitants of the world: The earth received the news with joy. Worldly affairs and pursuits. Everyday life; reality: was brought back to earth from his daydreams of wealth and fame. The substance of the human body; clay. The lair of a burrowing animal. Chiefly British The ground of an electrical circuit. Chemistry Any of several metallic oxides, such as alumina or zirconia, that are difficult to reduce and were formerly regarded as elements. v.   earthed, earth·ing, earths v.   tr. To cover or heap (plants) with soil for protection. To chase (an animal) into an underground hiding place. v.   intr. To burrow or hide in the ground. Used of a hunted animal. [Middle English erthe, from Old English eorthe; see er-2 in Indo-European roots.]

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
earth 

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

earth
noun
1.	the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on; "the Earth moves around the sun"; "he sailed around the world"
2.	the loose soft material that makes up a large part of the land surface; "they dug into the earth outside the church"
3.	the solid part of the earth's surface; "the plane turned away from the sea and moved back over land"; "the earth shook for several minutes"; "he dropped the logs on the ground" [syn: land]
4.	the abode of mortals (as contrasted with Heaven or Hell); "it was hell on earth"
5.	once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles)
6.	the concerns of this life as distinguished from heaven and the afterlife; "they consider the church to be independent of the world" [syn: worldly concern]
7.	a connection between an electrical device and a large conducting body, such as the earth (which is taken to be at zero voltage) [syn: ground]
verb
1.	hide in the earth like a hunted animal
2.	connect to the earth; "earth the circuit"

American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

earth

see down to earth; ends of the earth; four corners of the earth; move heaven and earth; not have an earthly chance; on earth; run to earth; salt of the earth.

The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Earth       (ûrth)  Pronunciation Key  The third planet from the Sun and the densest planet in the solar system. Earth is a terrestrial or inner planet consisting of a thin outer crust, an intermediate mantle, and a dense inner core. It has an atmosphere composed primarily of nitrogen and oxygen and is the only planet on which water in liquid form exists, covering more than 70 percent of its surface. It is also the only planet on which life is known to have evolved, occupying the relatively thin region of water, land, and air known as the biosphere. Earth has a single, relatively large natural satellite, the Moon. See more at atmosphere, core, crust, mantle. See Table at solar system. earth Electricity See ground.

American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
Earth

The planet on which we live — the third planet from the sun.

Note: The Earth was formed at the same time as the sun, about 4.6 billion years ago.

Note: It consists of an inner core made of iron and nickel, an outer core of liquid metal, a mantle, and, on the outside, a crust.

Note: The surface of the solid Earth is in a state of constant change as the rock is moved around by the processes of plate tectonics.

Note: On the Earth's surface, the oceans and the continents form the stage on which the evolution of life takes place. The atmosphere above the surface circulates, producing the daily weather.

[Chapter:] Earth Sciences

U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Blue Earth County, MN (county, FIPS 13) Location: 44.03280 N, 94.06363 W
Population (1990): 54044 (20358 housing units)
Area: 1948.7 sq km (land), 35.1 sq km (water)

Earth, TX (city, FIPS 21928) Location: 34.23349 N, 102.40843 W
Population (1990): 1228 (469 housing units)
Area: 3.1 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 79031

Black Earth, WI (village, FIPS 7800) Location: 43.13662 N, 89.74605 W
Population (1990): 1248 (469 housing units)
Area: 1.7 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 53515

Blue Earth, MN (city, FIPS 6688) Location: 43.63909 N, 94.09982 W
Population (1990): 3745 (1644 housing units)
Area: 8.1 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 56013

White Earth, ND (city, FIPS 85540) Location: 48.38009 N, 102.77178 W
Population (1990): 73 (57 housing units)
Area: 3.9 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 58794

White Earth, MN (CDP, FIPS 70006) Location: 47.09828 N, 95.85537 W
Population (1990): 319 (131 housing units)
Area: 3.1 sq km (land), 0.4 sq km (water)

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Earth

Earth\, n. [AS. eor?e; akin to OS. ertha, OFries. irthe, D. aarde, OHG. erda, G. erde, Icel. j["o]r?, Sw. & Dan. jord, Goth. a[=i]rpa, OHG. ero, Gr. ?, adv., to earth, and perh. to E. ear to plow.]

1. The globe or planet which we inhabit; the world, in distinction from the sun, moon, or stars. Also, this world as the dwelling place of mortals, in distinction from the dwelling place of spirits.

That law preserves the earth a sphere And guides the planets in their course. --S. Rogers.

In heaven, or earth, or under earth, in hell. --Milton.

2. The solid materials which make up the globe, in distinction from the air or water; the dry land.

God called the dry land earth. --Gen. i. 10.

He is pure air and fire, and the dull elements of earth and water never appear in him. --Shak.

3. The softer inorganic matter composing part of the surface of the globe, in distinction from the firm rock; soil of all kinds, including gravel, clay, loam, and the like; sometimes, soil favorable to the growth of plants; the visible surface of the globe; the ground; as, loose earth; rich earth.

Give him a little earth for charity. --Shak.

4. A part of this globe; a region; a country; land.

Would I had never trod this English earth. --Shak.

5. Worldly things, as opposed to spiritual things; the pursuits, interests, and allurements of this life.

Our weary souls by earth beguiled. --Keble.

6. The people on the globe.

The whole earth was of one language. --Gen. xi. 1.

7. (Chem.) (a) Any earthy-looking metallic oxide, as alumina, glucina, zirconia, yttria, and thoria. (b) A similar oxide, having a slight alkaline reaction, as lime, magnesia, strontia, baryta.

8. A hole in the ground, where an animal hides himself; as, the earth of a fox. --Macaulay.

They [ferrets] course the poor conies out of their earths. --Holland.

Note: Earth is used either adjectively or in combination to form compound words; as, earth apple or earth-apple; earth metal or earth-metal; earth closet or earth-closet.

Adamic earth, Bitter earth, Bog earth, Chian earth, etc. See under Adamic, Bitter, etc.

Alkaline earths. See under Alkaline.

Earth apple. (Bot.) (a) A potato. (b) A cucumber.

Earth auger, a form of auger for boring into the ground; -- called also earth borer.

Earth bath, a bath taken by immersing the naked body in earth for healing purposes.

Earth battery (Physics), a voltaic battery the elements of which are buried in the earth to be acted on by its moisture.

Earth chestnut, the pignut.

Earth closet, a privy or commode provided with dry earth or a similar substance for covering and deodorizing the f[ae]cal discharges.

Earth dog (Zo["o]l.), a dog that will dig in the earth, or enter holes of foxes, etc.

Earth hog, Earth pig (Zo["o]l.), the aard-vark.

Earth hunger, an intense desire to own land, or, in the case of nations, to extend their domain.

Earth light (Astron.), the light reflected by the earth, as upon the moon, and corresponding to moonlight; -- called also earth shine. --Sir J. Herschel.

Earth metal. See 1st Earth, 7. (Chem.)

Earth oil, petroleum.

Earth pillars or pyramids (Geol.), high pillars or pyramids of earth, sometimes capped with a single stone, found in Switzerland. --Lyell.

Earth pitch (Min.), mineral tar, a kind of asphaltum.

Earth quadrant, a fourth of the earth's circumference.

Earth table (Arch.), the lowest course of stones visible in a building; the ground table.

On earth, an intensive expression, oftenest used in questions and exclamations; as, What on earth shall I do? Nothing on earth will satisfy him. [Colloq.]

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Earth

Earth\, n. [AS. eor?e; akin to OS. ertha, OFries. irthe, D. aarde, OHG. erda, G. erde, Icel. j["o]r?, Sw. & Dan. jord, Goth. a[=i]rpa, OHG. ero, Gr. ?, adv., to earth, and perh. to E. ear to plow.]

1. The globe or planet which we inhabit; the world, in distinction from the sun, moon, or stars. Also, this world as the dwelling place of mortals, in distinction from the dwelling place of spirits.

That law preserves the earth a sphere And guides the planets in their course. --S. Rogers.

In heaven, or earth, or under earth, in hell. --Milton.

2. The solid materials which make up the globe, in distinction from the air or water; the dry land.

God called the dry land earth. --Gen. i. 10.

He is pure air and fire, and the dull elements of earth and water never appear in him. --Shak.

3. The softer inorganic matter composing part of the surface of the globe, in distinction from the firm rock; soil of all kinds, including gravel, clay, loam, and the like; sometimes, soil favorable to the growth of plants; the visible surface of the globe; the ground; as, loose earth; rich earth.

Give him a little earth for charity. --Shak.

4. A part of this globe; a region; a country; land.

Would I had never trod this English earth. --Shak.

5. Worldly things, as opposed to spiritual things; the pursuits, interests, and allurements of this life.

Our weary souls by earth beguiled. --Keble.

6. The people on the globe.

The whole earth was of one language. --Gen. xi. 1.

7. (Chem.) (a) Any earthy-looking metallic oxide, as alumina, glucina, zirconia, yttria, and thoria. (b) A similar oxide, having a slight alkaline reaction, as lime, magnesia, strontia, baryta.

8. A hole in the ground, where an animal hides himself; as, the earth of a fox. --Macaulay.

They [ferrets] course the poor conies out of their earths. --Holland.

Note: Earth is used either adjectively or in combination to form compound words; as, earth apple or earth-apple; earth metal or earth-metal; earth closet or earth-closet.

Adamic earth, Bitter earth, Bog earth, Chian earth, etc. See under Adamic, Bitter, etc.

Alkaline earths. See under Alkaline.

Earth apple. (Bot.) (a) A potato. (b) A cucumber.

Earth auger, a form of auger for boring into the ground; -- called also earth borer.

Earth bath, a bath taken by immersing the naked body in earth for healing purposes.

Earth battery (Physics), a voltaic battery the elements of which are buried in the earth to be acted on by its moisture.

Earth chestnut, the pignut.

Earth closet, a privy or commode provided with dry earth or a similar substance for covering and deodorizing the f[ae]cal discharges.

Earth dog (Zo["o]l.), a dog that will dig in the earth, or enter holes of foxes, etc.

Earth hog, Earth pig (Zo["o]l.), the aard-vark.

Earth hunger, an intense desire to own land, or, in the case of nations, to extend their domain.

Earth light (Astron.), the light reflected by the earth, as upon the moon, and corresponding to moonlight; -- called also earth shine. --Sir J. Herschel.

Earth metal. See 1st Earth, 7. (Chem.)

Earth oil, petroleum.

Earth pillars or pyramids (Geol.), high pillars or pyramids of earth, sometimes capped with a single stone, found in Switzerland. --Lyell.

Earth pitch (Min.), mineral tar, a kind of asphaltum.

Earth quadrant, a fourth of the earth's circumference.

Earth table (Arch.), the lowest course of stones visible in a building; the ground table.

On earth, an intensive expression, oftenest used in questions and exclamations; as, What on earth shall I do? Nothing on earth will satisfy him. [Colloq.]

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Earth

Earth\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Earthed; p. pr. & vb. n. Earthing.]

1. To hide, or cause to hide, in the earth; to chase into a burrow or den. "The fox is earthed." --Dryden.

2. To cover with earth or mold; to inter; to bury; -- sometimes with up.

The miser earths his treasure, and the thief, Watching the mole, half beggars him ere noon. --Young.

Why this in earthing up a carcass? --R. Blair.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Earth

Earth\, v. i. To burrow. --Tickell.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Earth

Earth\, n. [From Ear to plow.] A plowing. [Obs.]

Such land as ye break up for barley to sow, Two earths at the least, ere ye sow it, bestow. --Tusser.

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EARTH

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