(often initial capital letter) the planet third in order from the sun, having an equatorial diameter of 7,926 miles (12,755 km) and a polar diameter of 7,900 miles (12,714 km), a mean distance from the sun of 92.9 million miles (149.6 million km), and a period of revolution of 365.26 days, and having one satellite.
the inhabitants of this planet, especially the human inhabitants: The whole earth rejoiced.
this planet as the habitation of humans, often in contrast to heaven and hell: to create a hell on earth.
the surface of this planet: to fall to earth.
the solid matter of this planet; dry land; ground.
soil and dirt, as distinguished from rock and sand; the softer part of the land.
the hole of a burrowing animal; lair.
Chemistry. any of several metallic oxides that are difficult to reduce, as alumina, zirconia, and yttria.Compare alkaline earth, rare earth.
Also called earth color.Fine Arts. any of various pigments consisting chiefly of iron oxides and tending toward brown in hue.
Chiefly British Electronics. a ground.
Archaic. a land or country.
verb (used with object)
Chiefly British Electronics. to ground.
Idioms for earth
move heaven and earth. heaven (def. 8).
on earth, in the world: Where on earth have you been?
run to earth,
Hunting.to chase (an animal) into its hole or burrow: to run a fox to earth.
to search out; track down: They ran the fugitive to earth in Algiers.
Origin of earth
First recorded before 950; Middle English erthe, Old English eorthe; cognate with German Erde, Dutch aarde, Old Norse jǫrth, Danish jord, Gothic airtha
synonym study for earth
3. Earth,globe,world are terms applied to the planet on which we dwell. Earth is used especially 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.
The questions going through my mind are: How on earth are there Kalashnikovs and rocket launchers in the heart of Paris?
Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Our Duty Is to Keep Charlie Hebdo Alive|Ayaan Hirsi Ali|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
One is forced to ask, what on earth was Andrew doing hanging out with scantily clad teenagers?
Buckingham Palace Disputes Sex Allegations Against Prince ‘Randy Andy’|Tom Sykes|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
They carved a refuge out of the wilderness and then, in 200 years, built it into the most powerful nation on earth.
Mario Cuomo, Always Moving Us Toward the Light|Mike Barnicle|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Once giants walked this earth, and some of them were Democrats.
Time to Bring Back the Truman Democrats|Joel Kotkin|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Woods were shredded, the earth trembled and the ground exploded in showers of stone and red-hot metal splinters.
Hitler’s Hail Mary|James A. Warren|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Thus kept he his word to the Earth Mother, and gave her light, that she might see.
In the Time That Was|James Frederic Thorne
Deucalion and Pyrrha saw the bright waste of water sink and grow dim and the hills emerge, and the earth show green once more.
Old Greek Folk Stories Told Anew|Josephine Preston Peabody
In an instant the whips ceased to fall and the man with the dead soul saw all the Earth before him—and understood.
The City and the World and Other Stories|Francis Clement Kelley
(This was the age after the all devouring conflagration on earth).
The Yoga-Vasishtha Maharamayana of Valmiki, vol. 3 (of 4) part 2 (of 2)|Valmiki
I was no longer beneath the surface of the earth but was somewhere in the massive concrete structure of the City of Berlin.
City of Endless Night|Milo Hastings
British Dictionary definitions for earth
earth
/ (ɜːθ) /
noun
(sometimes capital)the third planet from the sun, the only planet on which life is known to exist. It is not quite spherical, being flattened at the poles, and consists of three geological zones, the core, mantle, and thin outer crust. The surface, covered with large areas of water, is enveloped by an atmosphere principally of nitrogen (78 per cent), oxygen (21 per cent), and some water vapour. The age is estimated at over four thousand million years. Distance from sun: 149.6 million km; equatorial diameter: 12 756 km; mass: 5.976 × 10 24 kg; sidereal period of axial rotation: 23 hours 56 minutes 4 seconds; sidereal period of revolution about sun: 365.256 daysRelated adjectives: terrestrial, tellurian, telluric, terrene
the inhabitants of this planetthe whole earth rejoiced
the dry surface of this planet as distinguished from sea or sky; land; ground
the loose soft material that makes up a large part of the surface of the ground and consists of disintegrated rock particles, mould, clay, etc; soil
worldly or temporal matters as opposed to the concerns of the spirit
the hole in which some species of burrowing animals, esp foxes, live
chem See rare earth, alkaline earth
a connection between an electrical circuit or device and the earth, which is at zero potential
a terminal to which this connection is madeUS and Canadian equivalent: ground
Also called: earth colourany of various brown pigments composed chiefly of iron oxides
(modifier)astrologyof or relating to a group of three signs of the zodiac, Taurus, Virgo, and CapricornCompare air (def. 20), fire (def. 24), water (def. 12)
cost the earthinformalto be very expensive
come back to earthorcome down to earthto return to reality from a fantasy or daydream
on earthused as an intensifier in such phrases as what on earth, who on earth, etc
run to earth
to hunt (an animal, esp a fox) to its earth and trap it there
to find (someone) after searching
verb
(intr)(of a hunted fox) to go to ground
(tr)to connect (a circuit, device, etc) to earth
See also earth up
Word Origin for earth
Old English eorthe; related to Old Norse jorth, Old High German ertha, Gothic airtha, Greek erā
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.
Dictionary.com’s Words To Inspire You For Earth DayWe love the Earth, it's beautiful, amazing ... and it needs our help. So, we at Dictionary.com are proud to bring you some words to remember on Earth Day (and really every day) to help our Earth out.
The planet on which we live — the third planet from the sun.
notes for Earth
The Earth was formed at the same time as the sun, about 4.6 billion years ago.
notes for Earth
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.
notes for Earth
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.
notes for Earth
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.
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 atmospherecorecrustmantle. See Table at solar system.