the brown soil that forms the top layer of ground
The dog dug a hole and sprayed loose earth everywhere.
She filled the flowerpot with rich black earth before planting the seeds.
✦ Old English ‘eorþe’ meaning ‘ground, soil, dry land’.
an electrical connection that carries unwanted current safely into the ground
Always attach the green–yellow wire to the earth terminal.
A faulty earth can make an appliance dangerous.
✦ Named because the current is directed literally into the earth.
to connect a piece of electrical equipment to the ground for safety
The engineer earthed the metal casing to prevent shocks.
You must earth the washing machine according to the instructions.
✦ Verb use developed from the noun ‘earth’ in electrical sense around the 1880s.
to cover the bottom part of a plant with soil to protect or support it
In spring, gardeners earth their potatoes to protect the shoots from frost.
She carefully earthed the young saplings so the roots stayed moist.
✦ Agricultural sense recorded from the 17th century, from using soil (earth) to mound around crops.
a sudden, strong shaking of the ground caused by movements deep inside the Earth
The earthquake damaged many buildings in the city center.
We felt the earthquake while eating dinner, and the dishes rattled on the table.
✦ Old English eorþquake, from eorþe “earth” + quake “to shake”.
a sudden, dramatic event or change that shakes up an organization, situation, or society
The CEO’s unexpected resignation caused an earthquake inside the company.
Her shocking announcement was an earthquake in the political world.
the planet we live on, the third planet from the Sun
Astronauts can see the blue oceans of Earth from space.
Climate change affects every person on Earth.
✦ Same root as soil sense; capitalized to name the planet since the 14th century.
