n. & v.
--n.
1. a (also Earth) one of the planets of the solar system orbiting about the sun between Venus and Mars; the planet on which we live. b land and sea, as distinct from sky.
2 a dry land; the ground (fell to earth). b soil, clay, mould. c bodily matter (earth to earth).
3 Relig. the present abode of mankind, as distinct from heaven or hell; the world.
4 Brit. Electr. the connection to the earth as an arbitrary reference voltage in an electrical circuit.
5 the hole of a badger, fox, etc.
6 (prec. by the) colloq. a huge amount; everything (cost the earth; want the earth).
--v.
1. tr. (foll. by up) cover (the roots and lower stems of plants) with heaped-up earth.
2 a tr. drive (a fox) to its earth. b intr. (of a fox etc.) run to its earth.
3 tr. Brit. Electr. connect to the earth.
Phrases and idioms:
come back (or down) to earth return to realities. earth-closet a lavatory with dry earth used to cover excreta. earth-hog (or -pig) AARDVARK. earth mother
1. Mythol. a spirit or deity symbolizing the earth.
2 a sensual and maternal woman. earth-nut any of various plants, or its edible roundish tuber, esp.:
:
1. an umbelliferous woodland plant, Conopodium majus.
2 the peanut. earth sciences the sciences concerned with the earth or part of it, or its atmosphere (e.g. geology, oceanography, meteorology). earth-shattering colloq. having a traumatic or devastating effect. earth-shatteringly colloq. devastatingly, remarkably. earth tremor see TREMOR n. 3. gone to earth in hiding. on earth colloq. existing anywhere; emphatically (the happiest man on earth; looked like nothing on earth; what on earth?).
Derivatives:
earthward adj. & adv. earthwards adv.
Etymology: OE eorthe f. Gmc