earth
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++ldoce_079_gearth1 /ɜːθ $ ɜːrθ/ ●●● S2 W2 noun 1 
world 世界 (also Earth)WORLD [singular, uncountable] the planet that we live on 地球 the planet Earth 地球the Earth The Earth revolves around the Sun. 地球绕着太阳公转。the Earth’s surface/atmosphere/crust etc 71% of the Earth’s surface is sea. 地球表面71%的面积是海洋。on Earth the origin of life on Earth 地球上生命的起源
2 soil 土壤 [uncountable]TAS the substance that plants grow in 泥土，土壤 SYN soilsoft/bare/damp etc earth footprints in the wet earth 湿土中的脚印 a lump of earth 一团泥土► see thesaurus at ground3 land 陆地 [uncountable]LAND/GROUND the hard surface of the world, as opposed to the sea or air 陆地；地面〔与海洋或天空相对〕 SYN ground The earth shook. 大地晃动了。 They watched the kite fall back to earth. 他们望着风筝落回地面。4 what/why/how etc on earth ...? spokenSURPRISED used to ask a question when you are very surprised or angry 究竟，到底〔用于询问令人惊讶或生气的事〕 What on earth did you do that for? 你那么做究竟为了什么？5 cost/pay/charge the earth informalEXPENSIVE to cost etc a very large amount of money 花费/支付/收取一大笔钱 It must have cost the earth! 那一定花了很多钱！6 the biggest/tallest/most expensive etc ... on earth MOSTthe biggest etc example of something that exists 世界上最大的/最高的/最贵的等 the most powerful man on earth 世界上最有影响力的人7 religion 宗教 [uncountable] used in religion to refer to the time when people are alive as opposed to being in heaven or hell 尘世，人间〔与天堂或地狱相对〕 Jesus’ time on earth 耶稣在人世间的时候 → move heaven and earth at heaven(9), → hell on earth at hell1(2)8 come back/down to earth (with a bump) REAL/NOT IMAGINARYto stop behaving or living in a way that is not practical 回到现实，丢掉幻想 She soon brought him back down to earth. 她很快使他从幻想中清醒过来。9 no ... /nothing on earth NONE/NOTHINGused to emphasize that you mean nothing at all 绝对没有什么〔用于强调〕 Nothing on earth would have persuaded me to go. 绝对没有什么可以说服我去的。 There’s no reason on earth why you should tell him. 你绝对没有理由要告诉他。10 look/feel etc like nothing on earth British EnglishSTRANGE to look or feel very strange 看上去/感觉等非常奇怪 The next morning I felt like nothing on earth. 第二天早上我感觉非常奇怪。11. electricity 电 [countable usually singular] British EnglishTEE a wire that makes a piece of electrical equipment safe by connecting it with the ground 地线〔电器与地面连接的导线〕 SYN American English ground12. animal’s home 动物居所 [countable]HBA the hole where a wild animal such as a fox lives 〔狐狸等野兽的〕洞穴 → den, lair13. go to earth British EnglishHIDE/MAKE IT HARD TO FIND OR SEE to hide in order to escape from someone who is chasing you 躲藏起来 SYN go to ground14. run somebody/something to earth British EnglishFIND to find someone, especially by looking in many places 四处搜寻最终找到某人/某物 → down-to-earth, → promise somebody the moon/the earth at promise1(3), → the salt of the earth at salt1(2)n COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 1: the planet that we live onnounsthe Earth’s surfaceOver seventy percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by ocean.the Earth’s crustVolcanoes and earthquakes occur where there is movement in the Earth’s crust.the Earth’s core (=central part)The Earth’s inner core is almost entirely composed of iron.the Earth’s mantle (=parts around the central core)the incredibly high temperatures and pressures deep within Earth’s mantlethe Earth’s atmosphereThe Earth’s atmosphere blocks off all radiation from space other than light and radio waves.the Earth’s gravitythe continual pull of the Earth’s gravity on the Moon.the Earth’s orbitThe rocket left the Earth's orbit and set off to Mars.the Earth’s rotationHas the Earth’s rotation always been the same?the Earth’s axisOver thousands of years, the direction of Earth’s axis slowly changes.the Earth’s climateThe level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has an influence on the Earth’s climate.verbsorbitThe Earth orbits the Sun once a year, and the Moon orbits the Earth approximately every 27 days.revolve/rotateBecause of the direction in which the Earth revolves, the sun always rises in the east and sets in the west.go round/aroundWhy does the Earth goes around the Sun?phrasesPlanet Earththe origin of life on Planet Earthn THESAURUSEarth/the Earth the planet we live on – used especially when talking about this in relation to other planets and to space. Also used when talking about being on the ground as opposed to being in the skyThe Earth moves around the Sun.The space shuttle returned to Earth safely.It’s the highest mountain on Earth.the world the planet we live on – used when talking about all the people, countries, places etc on itHe’s one of the richest men in the world.Sir Francis Drake was the first Englishman to sail around the world.land the solid dry part of the Earth’s surfaceAfter weeks at sea, the sailors saw land.the globe the world – used especially when you want to emphasize that something happens in or comes from every part of the worlda meeting of scientists from around the globe There has been an increase in skin cancer across the globe.The network is accessible from any point on the globe. n COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: the substance that plants grow inadjectivessoftThe wheels got stuck in the soft earth.hardIt hadn’t rained for weeks and the earth was hard.bare (=not covered by trees or grass)There were no flowers or grass, just bare earth.fertileThis earth is not fertile enough to produce crops.freshly-dugThe poppy seeds were planted in the freshly-dug earth.moist/dampI slipped on the damp earth and fell over.phrasesa mound of earth (=a pile of earth that looks like a small hill)A mound of earth lay beside the grave.a clod/clump of earth (=a lump of earth)The horse’s hooves kicked up great clods of earth.Examples from the Corpus
earth• Outside, the sun beat down on the red baked earth of Provence.• Then, suddenly, he was running, his arms flailing wildly, his bare feet thudding against the dark earth.• A shaking of earth, sky, mind, all.• Thousands of tons of earth were moved to build the dam.• With the industrial revolution, however, a better world did in fact arrive on earth.• planet earth• Above the earth, below the earth, on the earth, like Alice, curiouser and curiouser.• The message was freshly scratched in the earth.• The temperature of the Earth's core may be as high as 9,000 degrees Fahrenheit.• Born when the earth sleeps, yet Effie never seemed to rest and had soon worn out a rather fragile Marjorie.• In this way, signals can be sent to it and bounced back to earth stations for reception.• He bailed out at just the right time and floated the short distance to earth in a golden parachute.• When he returned to earth, he discovered that his father had died.soft/bare/damp etc earth• Four single bulbs under tin covers lit the entire station, and the air smelled of coal and damp earth.• She pulled through the clutching shrubbery and skimmed back up the steps, realizing she was leaving footprints of damp earth.• The mist was getting heavier; so, too, was the rank odor of damp earth.• It was dark and smelt of damp earth.• The floor was of bare earth, and a ring of wooden poles supported the roof.• She was pointing at a recess scraped in the soft earth and pine needles.• It pounded the soft earth and gurgled along the gutters to splash with relentless monotony into the tub outside the back door.earth2 verb [transitive] British EnglishTEE to make electrical equipment safe by connecting it to the ground with a wire 把〔电器〕接地 SYN ground American English Make sure that the machine is properly earthed. 要确保机器妥善接地。→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
earth• He is strongest when he's earthed and practical.• All that is a bit abstract but it can be earthed by an example.• The £50 rubber-soled shoes earthed the massive electric shock as the bolt hit Brian, 12, in his bedroom.• Any exposed metal must be reliably earthed to the mains Earth lead.Origin earth Old English eortheearth1 noun →n COLLOCATIONS1 →n COLLOCATIONS2
→n THESAURUS1earth2 verbLDOCE OnlineChinese
→n THESAURUS1earth2 verbLDOCE OnlineChinese
that planet the Corpus we on live
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earth
earth1 S2 W2 /ɜːθ $ ɜːrθ/ 
noun
1. WORLD (also Earth) [singular, uncountable] the planet that we live on:
the planet Earth
the earth
The earth revolves around the sun.
the earth’s surface/atmosphere/crust etc
71% of the earth’s surface is sea.
on earth
the origin of life on Earth
2. SOIL [uncountable] the substance that plants grow in
SYN soil
soft/bare/damp etc earth
footprints in the wet earth
a lump of earth
3. LAND [uncountable] the hard surface of the world, as opposed to the sea or air
SYN ground:
The earth shook.
They watched the kite fall back to earth.
4. what/why/how etc on earth ...? spoken used to ask a question when you are very surprised or angry:
What on earth did you do that for?
5. cost/pay/charge the earth informal to cost etc a very large amount of money:
It must have cost the earth__
6. the biggest/tallest/most expensive etc ... on earth the biggest etc example of something that exists:
the most powerful man on earth
7. RELIGION [uncountable] used in religion to refer to the time when people are alive as opposed to being in heaven or hell:
Jesus’ time on earth ⇨ move heaven and earth at heaven(9), ⇨ hell on earth at hell1(2)
8. come back/down to earth (with a bump) to stop behaving or living in a way that is not practical:
She soon brought him back down to earth.
9. no ... /nothing on earth used to emphasize that you mean nothing at all:
Nothing on earth would have persuaded me to go.
There’s no reason on earth why you should tell him.
10. look/feel etc like nothing on earth British English to look or feel very strange:
The next morning I felt like nothing on earth.
11. ELECTRICITY [countable usually singular] British English a wire that makes a piece of electrical equipment safe by connecting it with the ground
SYN ground American English
12. ANIMAL’S HOME [countable] the hole where a wild animal such as a fox lives ⇨ den, lair
13. go to earth British English to hide in order to escape from someone who is chasing you
SYN go to ground
14. run somebody/something to earth British English to find someone, especially by looking in many places
⇨ down-to-earth, ⇨ promise somebody the moon/the earth at promise1(3), ⇨ the salt of the earth at salt1(2)
■ nouns
▪the Earth’s surface Over seventy percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by ocean.
▪the Earth’s crust Volcanoes and earthquakes occur where there is movement in the Earth’s crust.
▪the Earth’s core (=central part) The Earth’s inner core is almost entirely composed of iron.
▪the Earth’s mantle (=parts around the central core) the incredibly high temperatures and pressures deep within Earth’s mantle
▪the Earth’s atmosphere The Earth’s atmosphere blocks off all radiation from space other than light and radio waves.
▪the Earth’s gravity the continual pull of the Earth’s gravity on the Moon.
▪the Earth’s orbit The rocket left the Earth's orbit and set off to Mars.
▪the Earth’s rotation Has the Earth’s rotation always been the same?
▪the Earth’s axis Over thousands of years, the direction of Earth’s axis slowly changes.
▪the Earth’s climate The level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has an influence on the Earth’s climate.
■ verbs
▪orbit The Earth orbits the Sun once a year, and the Moon orbits the Earth approximately every 27 days.
▪revolve/rotate Because of the direction in which the Earth revolves, the sun always rises in the east and sets in the west.
▪go round/around Why does the Earth goes around the Sun?
■ phrases
▪Planet Earth the origin of life on Planet Earth
■ adjectives
▪soft The wheels got stuck in the soft earth.
▪hard It hadn’t rained for weeks and the earth was hard.
▪bare (=not covered by trees or grass) There were no flowers or grass, just bare earth.
▪fertile This earth is not fertile enough to produce crops.
▪freshly-dug The poppy seeds were planted in the freshly-dug earth.
▪moist/damp I slipped on the damp earth and fell over.
■ phrases
▪a mound of earth (=a pile of earth that looks like a small hill) A mound of earth lay beside the grave.
▪a clod/clump of earth (=a lump of earth) The horse’s hooves kicked up great clods of earth.
▪ Earth/the Earth the planet we live on - used especially when talking about this in relation to other planets and to space. Also used when talking about being on the ground as opposed to being in the sky: The Earth moves around the sun. | The space shuttle returned to Earth safely. | It’s the highest mountain on Earth.
▪the world the planet we live on – used when talking about all the people, countries, places etc on it: He’s one of the richest men in the world. | Sir Francis Drake was the first Englishman to sail around the world.
▪land the solid dry part of the Earth’s surface: After weeks at sea, the sailors saw land.
▪the globe the world – used especially when you want to emphasize that something happens in or comes from every part of the world: a meeting of scientists from around the globe | There has been an increase in skin cancer across the globe. | The network is accessible from any point on the globe.
earth2 verb [transitive]
British English to make electrical equipment safe by connecting it to the ground with a wire
SYN ground American English:
Make sure that the machine is properly earthed.
| I |
noun Word Family: noun: earth, earthling, earthiness; adjective: earthy, earthly ≠ unearthly, earthen; verb: unearth; adverb: earthward(s)
Language: Old English
Origin: eorthe
Origin: eorthe
1. WORLD (also Earth) [singular, uncountable] the planet that we live on:
the earth
the earth’s surface/atmosphere/crust etc
on earth
2. SOIL [uncountable] the substance that plants grow in
SYN soil
soft/bare/damp etc earth
3. LAND [uncountable] the hard surface of the world, as opposed to the sea or air
SYN ground:
4. what/why/how etc on earth ...? spoken used to ask a question when you are very surprised or angry:
5. cost/pay/charge the earth informal to cost etc a very large amount of money:
6. the biggest/tallest/most expensive etc ... on earth the biggest etc example of something that exists:
7. RELIGION [uncountable] used in religion to refer to the time when people are alive as opposed to being in heaven or hell:
8. come back/down to earth (with a bump) to stop behaving or living in a way that is not practical:
9. no ... /nothing on earth used to emphasize that you mean nothing at all:
10. look/feel etc like nothing on earth British English to look or feel very strange:
11. ELECTRICITY [countable usually singular] British English a wire that makes a piece of electrical equipment safe by connecting it with the ground
SYN ground American English
12. ANIMAL’S HOME [countable] the hole where a wild animal such as a fox lives ⇨ den, lair
13. go to earth British English to hide in order to escape from someone who is chasing you
SYN go to ground
14. run somebody/something to earth British English to find someone, especially by looking in many places
⇨ down-to-earth, ⇨ promise somebody the moon/the earth at promise1(3), ⇨ the salt of the earth at salt1(2)
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verb [transitive]British English to make electrical equipment safe by connecting it to the ground with a wire
SYN ground American English:
floor the surface of a room that you walk on 指室内地板、地面 ：◆ She was sitting on the floor watching TV. 她坐在地板上看电视。 ground (often the ground ) the solid surface of the earth that you walk on（常作 the ground）指室外地、地面 ：◆ I found her lying on the ground. 我发现她躺在地上。 ◆ The rocket crashed a few seconds after it left the ground .火箭离开地面几秒钟便坠毁了。 land the surface of the earth that is not sea 指陆地、大地 ：◆ It was good to be back on dry land again.回到陆地上真好。 ◆ They fought both at sea and on land .他们在海上和陆上都打过仗。 earth (often the earth ) the solid surface of the world that is made of rock, soil, sand, etc.（常作 the earth）指大地、陆地、地面 ：◆ You could feel the earth shake as the truck came closer. 卡车开近时可感觉到地面在震动。
ground, land or earth? 用 ground、land 还是 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 useearth 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.* ground 常指建筑物或车辆外的地面。如果关注的是构成大地的岩石、土壤等可用 earth。land 只在与海相对照时使用 ：◆ the land beneath our feet ◆ feel the land shake ◆ sight ground/earth ◆ travel by ground/earth
Patterns
on/under the floor/ground/earthbare floor/ground/earthto drop/fall to the floor/the ground/(the) earthto reach the floor/the ground/land
soil the top layer of the earth in which plants grow 指土壤 ：◆ Plant the seedlings in damp soil. 把幼苗种在湿润的土壤里。 mud wet soil that is soft and sticky 指泥、淤泥、泥浆 ：◆ The car wheels got stuck in the mud. 汽车轮子陷到泥里去了。 dust a fine powder that consists of very small pieces of rock, earth, etc. 指沙石、沙土、尘土 ：◆ A cloud of dust rose as the truck set off. 卡车起动时扬起一片灰尘。 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 指黏土、陶土 ：◆ The tiles are made of clay. 这些砖是用陶土制成的。 land an area of ground, especially of a particular type 尤指某种类型的地带、土地 ：◆ an area of rich, fertile land 土地富饶肥沃的地域 earth the substance that plants grow in 指土、泥、泥土 NOTE Earth is often used about the soil found in gardens or used for gardening.* earth 常用以指花园里或种花用的泥土 ：◆ She put some earth into the pot. 她在花盆里放了一些泥土。 dirt ( soil, especially loose soilespecially
NAmE 指泥土，尤指松土、散土 ：◆ Pack the dirt firmly around the plants. 将植物周围的土培实。 ground an area of soil 指土地 ：◆ The car got stuck in the muddy ground. 汽车陷到泥地里了。 ◆ They drove across miles of rough, stony ground. 他们驶过数英里崎岖不平、多石的土地。 NOTE Ground is not used for loose soil.* ground 不用以指松土、散土 ：◆ a handful of dry ground
Patterns
good/rich soil/land/earthfertile/infertile soil/land/groundto dig the soil/mud/clay/land/earth/groundto cultivate the soil/land/ground
