Earth \Earth\ ([~e]rth), n. [AS. eor[eth]e; akin to OS. ertha,
OFries. irthe, D. aarde, OHG. erda, G. erde, Icel.
j["o]r[eth], Sw. & Dan. jord, Goth. a[imac]r[thorn]a, OHG.
ero, Gr. ?, 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.
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That law preserves the earth a sphere
And guides the planets in their course. --S. Rogers.
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In heaven, or earth, or under earth, in hell.
--Milton.
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2. The solid materials which make up the globe, in
distinction from the air or water; the dry land.
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God called the dry land earth. --Gen. i. 10.
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He is pure air and fire, and the dull elements of
earth and water never appear in him. --Shak.
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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.
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Give him a little earth for charity. --Shak.
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4. A part of this globe; a region; a country; land.
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Would I had never trod this English earth. --Shak.
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5. Worldly things, as opposed to spiritual things; the
pursuits, interests, and allurements of this life.
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Our weary souls by earth beguiled. --Keble.
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6. The people on the globe.
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The whole earth was of one language. --Gen. xi. 1.
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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.
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8. A hole in the ground, where an animal hides himself; as,
the earth of a fox. --Macaulay.
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They [ferrets] course the poor conies out of their
earths. --Holland.
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9. (Elec.) The connection of any part an electric conductor
with the ground; specif., the connection of a telegraph
line with the ground through a fault or otherwise.
Note: When the resistance of the earth connection is low it
is termed a good earth.
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Note: 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.
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{Adamic earth}, {Bitter earth}, {Bog earth}, {Chian earth},
etc. See under {Adamic}, {Bitter}, etc.
{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
f[ae]cal discharges.
{Earth dog} (Zo["o]l.), a dog that will dig in the earth, or
enter holes of foxes, etc.
{Earth hog}, {Earth pig} (Zo["o]l.), 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.]
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