English Reference

Word

earth

Phoneticsearth

US/ˈɝθ/

UK/ˈɜːθ/

Definitions

01the planet

A2 · Elementary Uncountable noun

n. the planet where humans live, the third planet from the sun.

n. the third planet from the Sun in the solar system. Often capitalised when treated as a proper noun.

“From space, Earth looks like a beautiful blue and white marble.”

“The satellite was designed to monitor changes in Earth's atmosphere over a ten-year period to track global warming trends.”

Synonyms

the worldthe globe

02soil

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. the substance on the surface of the ground in which plants grow.

n. the loose surface material of the globe in which plants grow; soil or dirt.

“She filled the flower pots with rich brown earth before planting the seeds.”

“The gardener turned the earth over with a spade to ensure the young saplings had enough oxygen for their roots.”

Synonyms

03the ground

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. the land or the surface of the world, rather than the sea or sky.

n. the solid surface of the world as distinguished from the surrounding water or air.

“The fallen leaves covered the earth like a thick orange carpet.”

“After weeks at sea, the sailors were relieved to finally set foot on solid earth once again.”

Antonyms

04electrical connection

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Science British English · Technical

n. a wire that connects an electrical machine to the ground for safety.

n. a connection between an electrical circuit or device and the ground, serving as a safety return path.

“Make sure the green wire is connected to the earth for safety.”

“The technician discovered that the fault was caused by a loose earth connection in the main circuit board.”

Usage

In American English, 'ground' is used instead of 'earth' for this sense.

Synonyms

05classical element

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Religion Academic

n. one of the four basic parts of nature in old philosophy, along with air, fire, and water.

n. one of the four classical elements in ancient and medieval philosophy.

“Ancient philosophers believed that everything was made of earth, air, fire, and water.”

“In many esoteric traditions, the element of earth represents stability, physical form, and the material world.”

06to connect to ground

C1 · Advanced Science British English · Technical

v. to connect a piece of electrical equipment to the ground.

v. to connect an electrical conductor or device to the earth. Transitive use.

“You must earth the metal casing of the lamp to prevent electric shocks.”

“The building's lightning protection system is designed to earth the massive electrical discharge safely into the soil.”

Synonyms

Etymology

From Middle English erthe, from Old English eorþe, from Proto-Germanic erþō, from Proto-Indo-European h₁er- (“earth”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

NOUN

Related words

Idioms

Domains

ChemistryPhilosophyReligion

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
Frequency
Very common
Level
A2 · ElementaryOxford
Updated

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