earth
earth — noun
1. the world, third from the Sun after Venus and before Mars, that supports all kno
the world, third from the Sun after Venus and before Mars, that supports all known living things
The Earth travels around the Sun once every year.
often capitalised as 'the Earth'
Lisa hopes to visit every continent on Earth before she turns forty.
Satellite images help scientists watch how the Earth changes over time.
Of all the planets in our solar system, only Earth has liquid water on its surface.
comparative structure: 'of all the planets, only Earth…'
The view of Earth from the Moon left the astronauts speechless.
Earth as a proper noun without article
- the Earth
- planet Earth
- on Earth
- Earth's atmosphere
- Earth's surface
Grammar Patterns
the Earth
on Earth
Common Mistakes
2. the solid outer layer of the planet, as opposed to the sky, the sea, or outer sp
the solid outer layer of the planet, as opposed to the sky, the sea, or outer space
The plane began its descent, and the earth came into view below the clouds.
'the earth' contrasting with sky
Caleb lay on the grass and felt the cool earth beneath his back.
After weeks at sea, the sailors were thrilled to feel solid earth under their feet again.
contrast with sea
The earthquake made the earth shake so hard that books fell off the shelves.
- on earth
- the earth
- to earth
- earth and sky
- face of the earth
Grammar Patterns
on earth
to earth
the earth
Usage Note
Unlike sense 1 ('the planet'), this sense is not capitalised, even though it refers to the same physical substance. The definite article is common ('the earth') but not always required in fixed phrases such as 'to earth' (falling to the ground).
Common Mistakes
3. the dark, loose material found in the ground and used by plants for rooting and
the dark, loose material found in the ground and used by plants for rooting and growth
Mizuki filled the flowerpot with fresh earth before planting the seeds.
collocation: 'fill with earth'
The earth in this garden is rich and easy to dig because of the compost.
Road workers piled the earth into a large mound beside the new road.
Anjali wiped the earth from her hands before going inside for lunch.
The old cabin had a floor made of packed earth instead of wooden boards.
compound: 'packed earth' as building material
- earth floor
- earth mound
- fill with earth
- packed earth
- rich earth
- loose earth
Grammar Patterns
earth + noun (earth floor)
earth for [purpose]
Usage Note
This sense is interchangeable with 'soil' in most contexts, but 'earth' sounds slightly more natural when describing the material as something you touch or move. 'Soil' is preferred in technical or agricultural writing.
Common Mistakes
4. a wire or other connection that links an electrical device to the ground so that
a wire or other connection that links an electrical device to the ground so that if a fault occurs the electric current can flow safely away
The electrician checked that the earth was properly connected before turning the power back on.
Old houses often lack an earth in their electrical sockets, making them dangerous.
countable: 'an earth'
Darius replaced the damaged earth wire in the washing machine himself.
compound: 'earth wire'
Without a proper earth connection, the metal case of the appliance could give you a shock.
- earth wire
- earth connection
- earth terminal
- connect to earth
- safety earth
- ground
American English equivalent; more widely understood internationally
Grammar Patterns
earth wire
connect to earth
an earth
Usage Note
This is the British English term. In American English, the same concept is called 'ground'. If writing for an international audience, consider using 'ground' or explaining the difference.
Common Mistakes
5. a hole dug under the surface of the soil for shelter, typically used by wild ani
a hole dug under the surface of the soil for shelter, typically used by wild animals such as foxes or badgers
The hunters found a fox earth hidden among the roots of an old oak tree.
collocation: 'fox earth'
A badger had dug a large earth under the fence at the edge of the field.
The puppies stayed inside the earth while their mother went out to hunt for food.
The gamekeeper found a fox earth among the rocks near the top of the hill.
singular countable: 'a fox earth'
- fox earth
- dig an earth
- into its earth
- earth entrance
Grammar Patterns
[animal] + earth
into its earth
Usage Note
This sense is most commonly used with foxes in British English. For other animals, 'burrow' or 'den' are more general terms.
cost the earth
idiomto be extremely expensive; to cost a very large amount of money
A first-class ticket on that flight would cost the earth, so Lisa booked economy instead.
It costs the earth to rent a flat in the centre of London these days.
to stop being excited or unrealistic and return to dealing with ordinary life
After winning the lottery, it took Hao a while to come back down to earth and plan for the future.
The students were dreaming of fame, but the exam results brought them down to earth with a bump.
on earth
idiomused after question words like 'how', 'why', 'what', 'who', 'where' to add strong emphasis, usually showing surprise, anger, or great interest
How on earth did you manage to finish the entire project in one night?
Why on earth would anyone pay so much money for an old, broken bicycle?
What on earth is that strange noise coming from the basement?
to try very hard to achieve something; to do everything one possibly can
Arjun said he would move heaven and earth to get his daughter the medical treatment she needed.
The organisers moved heaven and earth to make sure the festival went ahead despite the storm.
a person or group of people who are ordinary, honest, and good
Grandpa never had much money, but everyone in the village says he is the salt of the earth.
Teachers who work in poor rural areas are often described as the salt of the earth.
to make many promises that are unlikely to be kept, especially in order to persuade someone to do something
The salesman promised us the earth, but after we signed the contract nothing was delivered on time.
Politicians often promise the earth before an election and forget about it afterwards.
to become completely impossible to find; to vanish without a trace
Nikos tried to call his old friend, but it seemed he had disappeared off the face of the earth.
That style of mobile phone has practically disappeared off the face of the earth since smartphones arrived.
go to earth
idiomto go into hiding; to escape to a place where one cannot be found
After the robbery, the thieves went to earth in a remote mountain cabin.
The celebrity went to earth at a private villa to avoid the reporters.
extremely strange, unpleasant, or bad in taste, smell, or appearance
The leftover fish in the fridge smelled like nothing on earth, so Obi threw it away immediately.
Hao tried a local delicacy that looked like nothing on earth but actually tasted quite good.
To be extremely unpleasant or strange in some way.
The soup tasted like nothing on earth, so I couldn't eat it.
After the accident, he felt like nothing on earth for days.
To charge or pay a very large amount of money.
That designer bag costs the earth, but Maya saved up for it.
Why did the mechanic charge the earth for a simple repair?
come back/down to earth (with a bang/bump) | bring somebody (back) down to earth (with a bang/bump)
idiomTo return to a realistic way of thinking after a period of excitement or fantasy, or to cause someone to do so.
After winning the lottery, he came back down to earth with a bang.
The bad grade brought Sara down to earth from her daydreams.
To disappear completely, as if no longer existing.
The old man vanished off the face of the earth without a trace.
Where did my keys go? They seem to have disappeared off the face of the earth.
go to earth/ground
idiomTo hide, especially to avoid being caught or found.
The escaped prisoner went to earth in an abandoned warehouse.
When the police arrived, the thief had already gone to ground.
To do everything possible, no matter how difficult, to achieve something.
Diego would go to the ends of the earth to find his lost dog.
She went to the ends of the earth to get that rare book.
Used to emphasize a question when you are surprised, angry, or cannot think of an obvious answer.
How on earth did you manage to finish the project so quickly?
Why on earth would she quit her job without another one?
To make promises that are impossible to keep.
Politicians often promise the earth during election campaigns.
He promised her the moon, but he never delivered.
To find someone or something after a long and difficult search.
The detective finally ran the criminal to ground in a small town.
After weeks of searching, we ran the missing document to earth.
To destroy or remove someone or something completely.
The earthquake nearly wiped the village off the face of the earth.
The company's new technology wiped its competitors off the map.
earth — verb
1. to connect an electrical device or system to the ground with a wire so that dang
to connect an electrical device or system to the ground with a wire so that dangerous currents can flow away safely
The electrician earthed the washing machine before testing it.
past simple active
All the sockets in the new kitchen have been properly earthed, making them safe to use.
passive: 'have been earthed'
Ramón made sure the generator was earthed to a metal rod driven into the ground.
pattern: 'earth [device] to [ground]'
If you do not earth the amplifier, you may hear a buzzing sound from the speakers.
negative conditional
- earth a device
- earth wire
- properly earthed
- earth to ground
- ground
American English equivalent; more widely understood in international contexts
Grammar Patterns
earth + object
be earthed
earth [device] to [ground]
Usage Note
This is the British English verb form. In American English, the equivalent is 'to ground'. The word is most commonly used in the past participle form ('earthed') or passive constructions ('must be earthed').
Common Mistakes
Word family
- earthlyadjectiveB2
- earthenadjectiveB2
- earthenwarenounC1
- earthquakenounB1
- earthworknounC1
- earthwormnounB1
- unearthverbC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/3
All four words can refer to the material beneath our feet, but their natural contexts differ. 'Earth' is the broadest, covering the planet, the surface, and the growing medium — it feels poetic or tactile when used for soil ('a handful of earth'). 'Soil' is the technical and practical term for the upper layer in which plants grow; it is the default word in gardening, agriculture, and earth science. 'Dirt' is informal and more general; it can mean soil but also any unwanted substance ('there is dirt on the floor'), so it lacks precision. 'Ground' refers to the solid surface you walk on rather than the loose material you dig in — you dig a hole in the ground but fill it with earth or soil. For a gardener: 'I tested the soil's pH before planting.' For a poetic description: 'She scooped a handful of warm earth.' For everyday surface reference: 'The ball hit the ground.' Use 'soil' for precision, 'earth' for warmth, and 'ground' for position or surface.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'earth' comes from Old English 'eorþe', meaning ground, soil, or the material world. It shares roots with Old High German 'erda' (modern German 'Erde'), Old Norse 'jǫrð', and Gothic 'airþa'. All of these trace back to a Proto-Indo-European root *er- ('earth, ground'). The sense of 'the planet as a celestial body' developed later, during the Middle English period (14th century), as people began to understand Earth as one of the heavenly bodies. The electrical sense dates from the late 19th century, following the development of domestic electricity.