■ noun
1》 (also Earth ) the planet on which we live, the third planet of the solar system in order of distance from the sun.
2》 the substance of the land surface; soil.
↘one of the four elements in ancient and medieval philosophy and in astrology.
↘used in names of stable, dense, non-volatile inorganic substances, e.g. fuller's ~ .
↘ literary the substance of the human body: ~ to ~, ashes to ashes.
3》 Brit. electrical connection to the ground, regarded as having zero electrical potential.
4》 the underground lair of a badger or fox.
■ verb
1》 Brit. connect (an electrical device) to ~.
2》 Hunting (of a fox) run to its ~.
Phrases
bring (or come ) back (down) to ~ cause to return (or return) to reality.
the ~ chiefly Brit. a very large amount: her hat cost the ~.
go to ~ go into hiding.
on ~ used for emphasis: what on ~ are you doing?
Derivatives
~ward adjective & adverb
~wards adverb
Origin
OE eorthe , of Gmc origin.