Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Earth
Earth
(ẽrth)
, Noun.
[AS.
eorðe
; akin to OS. ertha
, OFries. irthe
, D. aarde
, OHG. erda
, G. erde
, Icel. jörð
, Sw. & Dan. jord
, Goth. aīrþa
, OHG. ero
, Gr. [GREEK], adv., to earth, and perh. to E. ear
to plow.] 1.
The globe or planet which we inhabit; the world, in distinction from the sun, moon, or stars. Also, this world as the dwelling place of mortals, in distinction from the dwelling place of spirits.
That law preserves the
And guides the planets in their course.
earth
a sphereAnd guides the planets in their course.
S. Rogers.
In heaven, or
earth
, or under earth
, in hell. Milton.
2.
The solid materials which make up the globe, in distinction from the air or water; the dry land.
God called the dry land
earth
. Gen. i. 10.
He is pure air and fire, and the dull elements of
earth
and water never appear in him. Shakespeare
3.
The softer inorganic matter composing part of the surface of the globe, in distinction from the firm rock; soil of all kinds, including gravel, clay, loam, and the like; sometimes, soil favorable to the growth of plants; the visible surface of the globe; the ground;
as, loose
earth
; rich earth
.Give him a little
earth
for charity. Shakespeare
4.
A part of this globe; a region; a country; land.
Would I had never trod this English
earth
. Shakespeare
5.
Worldly things, as opposed to spiritual things; the pursuits, interests, and allurements of this life.
Our weary souls by
earth
beguiled. Keble.
6.
The people on the globe.
The whole
earth
was of one language. Gen. xi. 1.
7.
(Chem.)
(a)
Any earthy-looking metallic oxide, as alumina, glucina, zirconia, yttria, and thoria.
(b)
A similar oxide, having a slight alkaline reaction, as lime, magnesia, strontia, baryta.
8.
A hole in the ground, where an animal hides himself;
as, the
. earth
of a foxMacaulay.
They [ferrets] course the poor conies out of their
earths
. Holland.
☞ Earth is used either adjectively or in combination to form compound words; as, earth apple or earth-apple; earth metal or earth-metal; earth closet or earth-closet.
Adamic earth
, Bitter earth
, Bog earth
, Chian earth
Alkaline earths
. See under
– Alkaline
. Earth apple
. (Bot.)
(a)
A potato.
(b)
A cucumber.
– Earth auger
, a form of auger for boring into the ground; – called also
– earth borer
. Earth bath
, a bath taken by immersing the naked body in earth for healing purposes.
– Earth battery
(Physics)
, a voltaic battery the elements of which are buried in the earth to be acted on by its moisture.
– Earth chestnut
, the pignut.
– Earth closet
, a privy or commode provided with dry earth or a similar substance for covering and deodorizing the fæcal discharges.
– Earth dog
(Zoöl.)
, a dog that will dig in the earth, or enter holes of foxes, etc.
– Earth hog
,
Earth pig
(Zoöl.)
, the aard-vark.
– Earth hunger
, an intense desire to own land, or, in the case of nations, to extend their domain.
– Earth light
(Astron.)
, the light reflected by the earth, as upon the moon, and corresponding to moonlight; – called also
earth shine
. Sir J. Herschel.
– Earth metal
. See 1st
– Earth
, 7. (Chem.)
Earth oil
, petroleum.
– Earth pillars
or
Earth pyramids
(Geol.)
, high pillars or pyramids of earth, sometimes capped with a single stone, found in Switzerland.
Lyell.
– Earth pitch
(Min.)
, mineral tar, a kind of asphaltum.
– Earth quadrant
, a fourth of the earth’s circumference.
– Earth table
(Arch.)
, the lowest course of stones visible in a building; the ground table.
– On earth
, an intensive expression, oftenest used in questions and exclamations;
as, What
. on earth
shall I do? Nothing on earth
will satisfy him[Colloq.]
Earth
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Earthed
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Earthing
.] 1.
To hide, or cause to hide, in the earth; to chase into a burrow or den.
“The fox is earthed.” Dryden.
2.
To cover with earth or mold; to inter; to bury; – sometimes with up.
The miser
Watching the mole, half beggars him ere noon.
earths
his treasure, and the thief,Watching the mole, half beggars him ere noon.
Young.
Why this in
earthing
up a carcass? R. Blair.
Earth
,Verb.
I.
To burrow.
Tickell.
Earth
,Noun.
[From
Ear
to plow.] A plowing.
[Obs.]
Such land as ye break up for barley to sow,
Two
Two
earths
at the least, ere ye sow it, bestow. Tusser.
Webster 1828 Edition
Earth
EARTH
,Noun.
1.
Earth, in its primary sense, signifies the particles which compose the mass of the globe, but more particularly the particles which form the fine mold on the surface of the globe; or it denotes any indefinite mass or portion of that matter. We throw up earth with a spade or plow; we fill a pit or ditch with earth; we form a rampart with earth. This substance being considered, by ancient philosophers, as simple, was called an element; and in popular language, we still hear of the four elements, fire, air,earth, and water.2.
In chimistry, the term earth was, till lately, employed to denote a simple elementary body or substance, tasteless, inodorous, uninflammable and infusible. But it has also been applied to substances which have a very sensible alkaline taste, as lime. The primitive earths are reckoned ten in number, viz, silex, alumin, lime, magnesia, baryte, strontian, zircon, glucin, yttria and thorina. Recent experiments prove that most or all of them are compounds of oxygen with bases, some of which appear to possess the properties of metals. In this case the earths are to be considered as metallic oxyds.3.
The terraqueous globe which we inhabit. The earth is nearly spherical, but a little flatted at the poles, and hence its figure is called an oblate spheroid. It is one of the primary planets, revolving round the sun in an orbit which is between those of Venus and Mars. It is nearly eight thousand miles in diameter, and twenty five thousand miles in circumference. Its distance from the sun is about ninety five millions of miles,and its annual revolution constitutes the year of 365 days, 5 hours, and nearly 49 minutes.4.
The world, as opposed to other scenes of existence.5.
The inhabitants of the globe.The whole earth was of one language. Gen.11.
6.
Dry land, opposed to the sea.God called the dry land earth. Gen.1.
7.
Country; region; a distinct part of the globe.In this sense, land or soil is more generally used.
In scripture, earth is used for a part of the world. Ezra. 1.2.
8.
The ground; the surface of the earth. He fell to the earth. The ark was lifted above the earth.In the second month--was the earth dried. Gen.8.
9.
In scripture, things on the earth, are carnal, sensual, temporary things; opposed to heavenly, spiritual or divine things. 10. Figuratively, a low condition. Rev.12.
11. [from ear, L. aro, to plow.] The act of turning up the ground in tillage. [Not used.]
EARTH
,Verb.
T.
The fox is earthed.
1.
To cover with earth or mold.EARTH
,Verb.
I.