earthed

1. 1
   verb

   Simple past and past participle of earth.

   The technician earthed the circuit to prevent dangerous shocks.

   Older houses in the village had poorly earthed wiring throughout.

   Note

   A regular -ed form that covers every use of the verb, not just the electrical one. The wiring sense is British, where Americans say grounded, and it is transitive: someone earthed the circuit, the circuit was earthed. Other meanings live on in it too: a body earthed is buried, and a fox earthed has been chased into its den. Before a noun the participle shades into the adjective for grounded wiring.

2. 2
   adjectiveIrelandUK

   Linked by a conductor to the ground, providing a safe electrical connection to the earth.

   Like a drainpipe that channels stray electricity harmlessly into the earth.

   The inspector confirmed that every outlet in the building was correctly earthed.

   A properly earthed appliance directs stray current safely into the ground.

   Similargrounded

   Note

   Where British and Irish electricians say earthed, Americans say grounded. The wire runs to the same place, and only the name for it differs. It is an absolute adjective: a socket is earthed or it is not, and nothing is ever more earthed than something else. It follows be (the casing is earthed) or sits before a noun (an earthed plug).

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