26984 words

earth

8 definitions • 10 examples
1
the planet third in order of distance from the sun, between Venus and Mars; the world on which we live:

Examples:

The earth takes approximately 3651/4 days to go round the sun.
on earth The circus has been described as the greatest show on earth (= in the world).
Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are called "rocky planets".
2
the land surface of the world rather than the sky or sea:

Examples:

The earth was shaking and people rushed out of their houses in panic.
He had enjoyed the voyage but was happy to feel the earth beneath his feet once more.
3
the usually brown, heavy and loose substance of which a large part of the surface of the ground is made, and in which plants can grow:

Examples:

The ploughed earth looked rich and dark and fertile.
4
a wire that makes a connection between a piece of electrical equipment and the ground, so the user is protected from feeling an electric shock if the equipment develops a fault
5
a hole in the ground where an animal such as a fox lives
6
to put an earth (= wire) between a piece of electrical equipment and the ground:

Examples:

You could get a nasty shock from that water heater if it isn't earthed properly.
7
the planet third in order of distance from the sun, after Venus and before Mars; the world on which we live:

Examples:

Earth looks incredibly beautiful from space.
His trainer called him the greatest boxer on earth (= in the world).
8
the loose substance of which a large part of the surface of the ground is made, and in which plants can grow; the land surface of the earth rather than the sky or sea:

Examples:

The plowed earth looked dark and fertile.

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