earth
noun
ɜːθ 
ɜːrθ 
1 (also Earth), the Earth [uncountable, singular] the world; the planet that we live onthe planet Earththe history of life on earththe earth's ozone layerThe earth revolves around the sun.I must be the happiest person on earth!2 [uncountable, singular] land; the hard surface of the world that is not the sea or the sky; the groundAfter a week at sea, it was good to feel the earth beneath our feet again.You could feel the earth shake as the truck came closer.3 [uncountable] the substance that plants grow ina clod/lump/mound of earthI cleaned off the earth clinging to my boots.4 [countable] the hole where an animal, especially a fox, lives5 (British English) (North American English ground) [countable, usually singular] a wire that connects an electric circuit with the ground and makes it safeIdioms
charge, cost, pay, etc. the earth
(British English, informal) to charge, etc. a lot of moneyI'd love that dress, but it costs the earth.If you want a house in London, you'll have to pay the earth for it.come back/down to earth (with a bang/bump)
|bring somebody (back) down to earth (with a bang/bump)
(informal) to return, or to make somebody return, to a normal way of thinking or behaving after a time when they have been very excited, not very practical, etc. see also down to earthgo to earth/ground
(British English) to hide, especially to escape from somebody who is chasing youhow, why, where, who, etc. on earth
(informal) used to emphasize the question you are asking when you are surprised or angry or cannot think of an obvious answerWhat on earth are you doing?How on earth can she afford that?be, feel, look, taste, etc. like nothing on earth
(informal) to be, feel, look, taste, etc. very badon earth
used after negative nouns or pronouns to emphasize what you are saying
Nothing on earth would persuade me to go with him.run somebody/something to earth/ground
(British English) to find somebody/something after looking hard for a long time
Usage note: floorground land earthThese are all words for the surface that you walk on.floor the surface of a room that you walk on: She was sitting on the floor watching TV.ground (often the ground) the solid surface of the earth that you walk on: I found her lying on the ground. ◇ The rocket crashed a few seconds after it left the ground.land the surface of the earth that is not sea: It was good to be back on dry land again. ◇ They fought both at sea and on land.earth (often the earth) the solid surface of the world that is made of rock, soil, sand, etc: You could feel the earth shake as the truck came closer.ground, land or earth?Ground is the normal word for the solid surface that you walk on when you are not in a building or vehicle. You can use earth if you want to draw attention to the rock, soil etc. that the ground is made of. Land is only used when you want to contrast it with the sea: the land beneath our feet ◇ feel the land shake ◇ sight ground/earth ◇ travel by ground/earthon/under the floor/ground/earthbare floor/ground/earthto drop/fall to the floor/the ground/(the) earthto reach the floor/the ground/landUsage note: soilmud dust clay land earth dirt groundThese are all words for the top layer of the earth in which plants grow.soil the top layer of the earth in which plants grow: Plant the seedlings in damp soil.mud wet soil that is soft and sticky: The car wheels got stuck in the mud.dust a fine powder that consists of very small pieces of rock, earth, etc: A cloud of dust rose as the truck set off.clay a type of heavy sticky soil that becomes hard when it is baked and is used to make things such as pots and bricks: The tiles are made of clay.land an area of ground, especially of a particular type: an area of rich, fertile landearth the substance that plants grow in. Earth is often used about the soil found in gardens or used for gardening: She put some earth into the pot.dirt (especially North American English) soil, especially loose soil: Pack the dirt firmly around the plants.ground an area of soil: The car got stuck in the muddy ground. ◇ They drove across miles of rough, stony ground. Ground is not used for loose soil: a handful of dry groundgood/rich soil/land/earthfertile/infertile soil/land/groundto dig the soil/mud/clay/land/earth/groundto cultivate the soil/land/ground