EARTH, n. erth.

1. Earth, in its primary sense, signifies the particles which compose the mass of the globe, but more particularly the particles which form the fine mold on the surface of the globe; or it denotes any indefinite mass or portion of that matter. We throw up earth with a spade or plow; we fill a pit or ditch with earth; we form a rampart with earth. This substance being considered, by ancient philosophers, as simple, was called an element; and in popular language, we still hear of the four elements, fire, air, earth, and water.
2. In chimistry, the term earth was, till lately, employed to denote a supposed simple elementary body or substance, defined to be tasteless, inodorous, uninflammable and infusible. But it has also been applied to substances which have a very sensible alkaline taste, as lime. The primitive earths were reckoned ten in number, viz. silex, alumin, lime, magnesia, baryte, strontian, zircon, glucin, yttria and thorina. Recent experiments prove that all of them are compounds of oxygen with metallic bases. The earths are now to be considered as metallic oxyds. Davy. Silliman. Phillips.
3. The terraqueous globe which we inhabit. The earth is nearly spherical, but a little flatted at the poles, and hence its figure is called an oblate spheroid. It is one of the primary planets, revolving round the sun in an orbit which is between those of Venus and Mars. It is nearly eight thousand miles in diameter, and twenty-five thousand miles in circumference. Its distance from the sun is about ninety-five millions of miles, and its annual revolution constitutes the year of 365 days, 5 hours, and nearly 49 minutes.
4. The world, as opposed to other scenes of existence. Shak.
5. The inhabitants of the globe. The whole earth was of one language. Gen. xi.
6. Dry land, opposed to the sea. God called the dry land earth. Gen. i.
7. Country; region; a distinct part of the globe. Dryden. In this sense, land or soil is more generally used. In Scripture, earth is used for a part of the world. Ezra i, 2.
8. The ground; the surface of the earth. He fell to the earth. The ark was lifted above the earth. In the second month – was the earth dried. Gen. viii.
9. In Scripture, things on the earth, are carnal, sensual, temporary things; opposed to heavenly, spiritual or divine things.
10. Figuratively, a low condition. Rev. xii.
11. [From ear, Sax. erian, L. aro, to plow.] The act of turning up the ground in tillage. [Not used.] Tusser.

To retire under ground; to burrow. Here foxes earthed.

1. To hide in the earth. The fox is earthed. Dryden.
2. To cover with earth or mold.

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.
   
   

   That law preserves the earth a sphere
   And guides the planets in their course. S. Rogers.

   In heaven, or earth, or under earth, in hell. Milton.

2. To hide, or cause to hide, in the earth] to chase into a burrow or den.
   
   
   "The fox is earthed." Dryden.
3. To burrow.
   
   
   Tickell.
4. A plowing.
   
   
   [Obs.]

   Such land as ye break up for barley to sow,
   Two earths at the least, ere ye sow it, bestow. Tusser.

5. 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.
   
   

   * When the resistance of the earth connection is low it is termed a good earth.

6. The solid materials which make up the globe, in distinction from the air or water; the dry land.
   
   

   God called the dry land earth. Gen. i. 10.

   He is pure air and fire, and the dull elements of earth and water never appear in him. Shak.

7. To cover with earth or mold; to inter; to bury; -- sometimes with up.
   
   

   The miser earths his treasure, and the thief,
   Watching the mole, half beggars him ere noon. Young.

   Why this in earthing up a carcass? R. Blair.

8. 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.
   
   

   Give him a little earth for charity. Shak.

9. A part of this globe; a region; a country; land.
   
   

   Would I had never trod this English earth. Shak.

10. Worldly things, as opposed to spiritual things; the pursuits, interests, and allurements of this life.
    
    

    Our weary souls by earth beguiled. Keble.

11. The people on the globe.
    
    

    The whole earth was of one language. Gen. xi. 1.

12. Any earthy-looking metallic oxide, as alumina, glucina, zirconia, yttria, and thoria.
    
    
    (b)
13. A hole in the ground, where an animal hides himself; as, the earth of a fox.
    
    
    Macaulay.

    They [ferrets] course the poor conies out of their earths. Holland.

    * 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.

    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 fæcal discharges. -- Earth dog (Zoöl.), a dog that will dig in the earth, or enter holes of foxes, etc. -- Earth hog, Earth pig (Zoöl.), 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 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.]