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on earth

 - 5 dictionary results

earth

  [urth]
Use on earth in a Sentence
–noun
1. (often initial capital letter) the planet third in order from the sun, having an equatorial diameter of 7926 mi. (12,755 km) and a polar diameter of 7900 mi. (12,714 km), a mean distance from the sun of 92.9 million mi. (149.6 million km), and a period of revolution of 365.26 days, and having one satellite.
2. the inhabitants of this planet, esp. the human inhabitants: The whole earth rejoiced.
3. this planet as the habitation of humans, often in contrast to heaven and hell: to create a hell on earth.
4. the surface of this planet: to fall to earth.
5. the solid matter of this planet; dry land; ground.
6. soil and dirt, as distinguished from rock and sand; the softer part of the land.
7. the hole of a burrowing animal; lair.
8. Chemistry. any of several metallic oxides that are difficult to reduce, as alumina, zirconia, and yttria. Compare alkaline earth, rare earth.
9. Also called earth color. Fine Arts. any of various pigments consisting chiefly of iron oxides and tending toward brown in hue.
10. Chiefly British Electronics. a ground.
11. Archaic. a land or country.
–verb (used with object)
12. Chiefly British Electronics. to ground.
—Idioms
13. move heaven and earth. heaven (def. 7).
14. on earth, in the world: Where on earth have you been?
15. run to earth,
a. Hunting. to chase (an animal) into its hole or burrow: to run a fox to earth.
b. to search out; track down: They ran the fugitive to earth in Algiers.
Origin:
bef. 950; ME erthe, OE eorthe; c. G Erde, D aarde, ON jǫrth, Dan jord, Goth airtha

Synonyms:
3. Earth, globe, world are terms applied to the planet on which we dwell. Earth is used esp. in speaking of a condition of existence contrasted with that in heaven or hell: those who are yet on earth. Globe formerly emphasized merely the roundness of the earth: to circumnavigate the globe. It is now used more like world, with especial application to the inhabitants of the earth and their activities, interests, and concerns. In this sense, both globe and world are more inclusive than earth and are used more abstractly: the politics of the globe; the future of the world; One World.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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earth   (ûrth)   


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n.  

    1. The land surface of the world.

    2. The softer, friable part of land; soil, especially productive soil.

    3. Worldly affairs and pursuits.

    4. Everyday life; reality: was brought back to earth from his daydreams of wealth and fame.

  2. 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).

  3. The realm of mortal existence; the temporal world.

  4. The human inhabitants of the world: The earth received the news with joy.

    1. Worldly affairs and pursuits.

    2. Everyday life; reality: was brought back to earth from his daydreams of wealth and fame.

  6. The substance of the human body; clay.

  7. The lair of a burrowing animal.

  8. Chiefly British The ground of an electrical circuit.

  9. 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.

  1. To cover or heap (plants) with soil for protection.

  2. 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.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

earth (ûrth)
n.
Any of several metallic oxides, such as alumina or zirconia, from which it is difficult to remove oxygen. No longer in technical use.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
Earth   (ûrth)  Pronunciation Key 

  1. 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.

  2. earth

  3. Electricity See ground.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Idioms & Phrases

on earth

  1. Also, in creation; in the world. Ever, anywhere, of all possible things. These phrases are all used for emphasis in questions or, less often, in a negative context. For example, What on earth is he doing with a spade? or Where in creation did that child go? or How in the world do you expect me to carry all those bags? [Late 1700s]

  2. like nothing on earth. Incomparable. For example, That perfume smells like nothing on earth, or Her new hair color is like nothing on earth. [c. 1900]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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