noun / verb

earth

The solid ground beneath our feet.

The dry earth cracks beneath our feet in the heat.

Etymology

Old English eorþe meant ground or land. This concrete sense survives in earth as the solid surface beneath us or the soil that composes it.

More examples

  • She loosens the earth before planting the seeds.
  • The garden smells of damp earth after the rain.
  • In ancient Greek thought, earth is one of four elements.

Forms

earth · earths · earthed · earthing

earthy adjective — Having the smell or texture of soil.

Similar words

ground
Emphasizes the surface underfoot rather than its loose material.
soil
Emphasizes the surface material in which plants grow.
dirt
An everyday term for loose earth, especially when messy.