on earth

earthcutaway of the earth

earth

E0007200 (ûrth)n.1. a. The land surface of the world.b. The softer, friable part of land; soil, especially productive soil.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 149.6 million kilometers (92.96 million miles), a sidereal rotation period of 23 hours 56.07 minutes, an average radius of 6,378.1 kilometers (3,963 miles), and a mass of approximately 5.9736 × 10²⁴ kilograms (1.3169 × 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.5. a. Worldly affairs and pursuits.b. 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.Idiom: on earth Among all the possibilities: Why on earth did you put on that outfit?

[Middle English erthe, from Old English eorthe; see er- in Indo-European roots.]

Thesaurus

Adv.

on earth - used with question words to convey surprise; "what on earth are you doing?"

Translations

究竟

earth

(əːð) noun1. the third planet in order of distance from the Sun; the planet on which we live. Is Earth nearer the Sun than Mars is?; the geography of the earth.地球2. the world as opposed to heaven. heaven and earth. 尘世，人间 3. soil. Fill the plant-pot with earth.土4. dry land; the ground. the earth, sea and sky. 陆地，地面 5. a burrow or hole of an animal, especially of a fox. 洞穴6. (a wire that provides) an electrical connection with the earth. （电）接地 verb to connect to earth electrically. Is your washing-machine properly earthed?接地ˈearthen adjective (of a floor etc) made of earth. 泥土做的，陶制的 ˈearthly adjective1. of or belonging to this world; not heavenly or spiritual. this earthly life. 人间的，地球的 2. possible. This gadget has no earthly use.可能的ˈearthenware noun, adjective (of) a kind of pottery coarser than china. an earthenware dish.陶器ˈearthquake noun a shaking of the earth's surface. The village was destroyed by an earthquake.地震ˈearthworm noun (usually worm) a kind of small animal with a ringed body and no backbone, living in damp earth. 蚯蚓on earth used for emphasis. What on earth are you doing?; the stupidest man on earth. （用于加强语气）究竟 run to earth to find (something or someone) after a long search. He ran his friend to earth in the pub.经过长时间追查后找到

on earth

An intensifier used to emphasize surprise, shock, anger, disgust, etc. How on earth am I supposed to read this entire book in one week? What on earth were you thinking, driving across the state in the middle of the night?See also: earth, on

on earth

and in creation; in the worldFig. really; indeed; in fact. (Used as an intensifier after who, what, when, where, how.) What on earth do you mean?' How in creation do you expect me to do that? Who in the world do you think you are?See also: earth, on

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] See also: earth, on

on earth

Among all the possibilities: Why on earth did you put on that outfit?See also: earth, on