earth

Earth proper noun · noun · verb

SayURTH/ɝθ//ɜːθ/

Noun pluralearths (some meanings)

16 meanings of earth

Practice

1
our planetproper noun · Earthuncountable
The planet we live on, the third one from the sun.
Earth is the only planet we know of that has life.
From the space station, the astronauts watched Earth turn below them.
UsageSay Earth or the Earth.
Note
2
soilnoununcountable
The soil or dirt that covers the ground and that plants grow in.
She pressed the seeds into the wet earth.
His boots were covered in earth from the garden.
Similarsoil, dirt, ground, loam
3
the groundnouncountable or uncountable
The ground or land, not the sky or the sea.
The balloon slowly drifted back down to earth.
After a month on the ship, the sailors were happy to feel solid earth under their feet.
UsageSay come back to earth.
Similarground, land
4
this worldnouncountable or uncountable
This world and the life we live now, not heaven or life after death.
She believes we should be kind while we are here on earth.
Grandpa said his time on earth had been happy.
UsageSay on earth.
Similarworld
Oppositeheaven
Note
5
mother goddessproper noun · Earthuncountable
The world or the land seen as a person, often a woman who makes things grow, or a goddess.
In the old song, Earth wakes up in spring and covers herself with flowers.
The people left gifts of grain to thank Earth for the harvest.
6
classical elementnouncountable or uncountable
Soil or rock, seen as one of the four or five basic elements in old ideas about the world.
Long ago, people believed that everything was made of earth, air, fire and water.
In Chinese medicine, earth is one of five elements, along with wood, fire, metal and water.
Note
7
all peoplenounmetonymicallycountable or uncountable
All the people in the world.
The king sent a message of peace to all the earth.
The whole earth was watching the moon landing.
UsageSay the whole earth.
Similarworld
Note

Less common meanings

8
planet like oursnouncountable or uncountable
Another planet that is a lot like ours.
Is there another earth out there with oceans like ours?
Some stars may have earths of their own going around them.
9
metal oxidenounobsoletecountable or uncountable
In old chemistry, a substance that would not melt or dissolve in water, now known to be metal joined with oxygen.
Early chemists called lime an earth because it would not melt.
The old chemist's notebook lists several earths, such as magnesia.
Note
10
electrical groundnounBritishcountable or uncountable
A connection from electrical equipment to the ground, or the part of a machine where it connects.
The longer pin at the top of the plug is the earth.
Without a proper earth, touching the metal toaster could give you a shock.
Similarground
11
connect to groundverbUKtransitive
To make an electrical connection between a machine and the ground.
You must earth the metal case before you turn the power on.
The electrician earthed every socket in the new kitchen.
UsageOften earthed. Americans say grounded.
Similarground
12
verbraretransitive
To put something in a hole in the ground and cover it up.
The Miſer earths his Treaſure; and the Thief, / Watching the Mole, half-beggars him ere Morn.
1745, [Edward Young], “Night the Ninth and Last. The Consolation. Containing, among Other Things, I. A Moral Survey of the Nocturnal…Here, earths means buries in the ground, hiding it in a hole.
Similarbury
Oppositeexhume
13
dennouncountable or uncountable
A hole in the ground where an animal such as a fox lives.
The fox ran back into its earth when it heard the dogs.
We found a fox's earth under the roots of an old oak.
Similarden, lair, burrow
14
drive undergroundverbtransitive
To hide in a hole in the ground, or to chase an animal into its hole.
A hunted fox will earth in the first hole it finds.
After a long chase, the hounds earthed the fox under an old tree.
Note
15
nounarchaiccountable or uncountable
The body of a person.
Note
16
nounliterary
One part of the world, such as a land or a country.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of earth apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 2–4, 6–15

From Old English eorþe, from an old Germanic word meaning 'dirt' or 'ground'. It is related to German Erde and Dutch aarde.

Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 4 facts

Earth derives from Old English eorþe. en.wiktionary.org
The Old English word descends from a Germanic word meaning dirt or ground. en.wiktionary.org
Earth is etymologically related to German Erde. en.wiktionary.org
Earth is etymologically related to Dutch aarde. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 1, 5

From Old English eorþe, the same word as earth meaning the ground.

Checked 3 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Earth derives from Old English eorþe. en.wiktionary.org
The planetary name and earth meaning the ground are the same word in origin. en.wiktionary.org