earth

noun

• 1 (also Earth) the planet on which we live; the world:the diversity of life on earth
• the surface of the world as distinct from the sky or the sea:the pilot brought the plane gently back to earth
• the present abode of humankind, as distinct from heaven or hell: God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven

The earth is the third planet from the sun in the solar system, orbiting between Venus and Mars at an average distance of 149.6 million km from the sun, and has one natural satellite, the moon. It has an equatorial diameter of 12,756 km, an average density 5.5 times that of water, and is believed to have formed about 4,600 million years ago. The earth, which is three-quarters covered by oceans and has a dense atmosphere of nitrogen and oxygen, is the only planet known to support life

• 2 [mass noun] the substance of the land surface; soil:a layer of earth
• [count noun] used in names of stable, dense, non-volatile inorganic substances, e.g. fuller’s earth: these crayons are made with a mixture of native earths plus softeners such as China clay
• literary the substance of the human body: we now commit his body to the ground: earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust

• 3 [mass noun] British electrical connection to the ground, regarded as having zero electrical potential:ensure metal fittings are electrically bonded to earth

• 4the underground lair of a badger or fox.

• 5one of the four elements in ancient and medieval philosophy and in astrology (considered essential to the nature of the signs Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn): [as modifier]:an earth sign

verb

• 1British connect (an electrical device) with the ground:the front metal panels must be soundly earthed

• 2 Hunting drive (a fox) to its underground lair.
• [no object] (of a fox) run to its underground lair.

• 3 (earth something up) cover the root and lower stem of a plant with heaped-up earth: the stems can be earthed up when the plant is about one foot high