earth
(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.
Chiefly British Electronics. to ground.
Idioms about 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
1synonym study For earth
Words Nearby earth
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use earth in a sentence
While shares of Gamestop are now coming down to earth at about $50 apiece, the former rally’s impact has been far from negligible.
In recent standoffs, the NBA has been willing to move heaven and earth to maximize its television revenue.
Four options for an NBA All-Star Game that the star players don’t seem to want | Ben Golliver | February 8, 2021 | Washington PostWith only one mining firm currently producing rare earths in the US, Round Top—which the company hopes to have in operation by 2023—would play a significant role in helping diversify supplies.
The US is taking steps towards breaking China’s rare earths monopoly | Mary Hui | February 5, 2021 | QuartzSophie Murguia, assistant editorThere are some writers you discover and subsequently decide you must follow to the ends of the earth.
Over the past several decades, China has built up and cemented its dominance in global rare earths, and at its peak the country accounted for almost 98% of the world’s raw rare earths production.
China is feeling insecure about its global rare earths dominance | Mary Hui | January 28, 2021 | Quartz
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 | THE DAILY BEASTOne 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 | THE DAILY BEASTThey carved a refuge out of the wilderness and then, in 200 years, built it into the most powerful nation on earth.
Once giants walked this earth, and some of them were Democrats.
Woods were shredded, the earth trembled and the ground exploded in showers of stone and red-hot metal splinters.
The most High hath created medicines out of the earth, and a wise man will not abhor them.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousThe Majesty on high has a colony and a people on earth, which otherwise is under the supremacy of the Evil One.
Solomon and Solomonic Literature | Moncure Daniel ConwayAll things that are of the earth, shall return to the earth again, and all waters shall return to the sea.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousIt was difficult, with the mean appliances of the time, to wring subsistence from the reluctant earth.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice | Stephen LeacockHe felt himself the meanest, vilest thing a-crawl upon this sinful earth, and she—dear God!
St. Martin's Summer | Rafael Sabatini
British Dictionary definitions for earth
/ (ɜːθ) /
(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 days: Related adjectives: terrestrial, tellurian, telluric, terrene
the inhabitants of this planet: the 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 made: US and Canadian equivalent: ground
Also called: earth colour any of various brown pigments composed chiefly of iron oxides
(modifier) astrology of or relating to a group of three signs of the zodiac, Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn: Compare air (def. 20), fire (def. 24), water (def. 12)
cost the earth informal to be very expensive
come back to earth or come down to earth to return to reality from a fantasy or daydream
on earth used 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
(intr) (of a hunted fox) to go to ground
(tr) to connect (a circuit, device, etc) to earth
Origin of earth
1- See also earth up
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for Earth
[ ûrth ]
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
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for Earth
Notes for Earth
Notes for Earth
Notes for Earth
Notes for Earth
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with 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® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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