| earth | 1. <astronomy> Planet that is the third in order from the sun. It is one of the four inner or terrestrial planets of the solar system. 2. 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) 3. <chemistry> Any earthy-looking metallic oxide, as alumina, glucina, zirconia, yttria, and thoria. A similar oxide, having a slight alkaline reaction, as lime, magnesia, strontia, baryta. 4. 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 Adamic, Bitter, etc. Alkaline earths. See Alkaline. Earth apple. Origin: AS. Eore; akin to OS. Ertha, OFries. Irthe, D. Aarde, OHG. Erda, G. Erde, Icel. Jor, Sw. & Dan. Jord, Goth. Airpa, OHG. Ero, Gr, adv, to earth, and perh. To E. Ear to plow. Source: Websters Dictionary (25 Jun 1999) |
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| earth flax | <chemical> A variety of asbestus. See Amianthus. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| earth wax | A natural mixture of hydrocarbons of high molecular weight; a substitute for beeswax, also used in dentistry for impressions. Synonym: cerin, cerosin, earth wax, mineral wax, purified ozokerite. (05 Mar 2000) |
| earth-eating | Geophagismgeophagy The practice of eating dirt or clay. Synonym: dirt-eating, earth-eating. Origin: Geo-+ G. Phago, to eat (05 Mar 2000) |
| earth-tongue | <botany> A fungus of the genus Geoglossum. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| earthboard | <agriculture> The part of a plow, or other implement, that turns over the earth; the moldboard. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| earthen-hearted | Hard-hearted; sordid; gross. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| earthly | 1. Pertaining to the earth; belonging to this world, or to man's existence on the earth; not heavenly or spiritual; carnal; worldly; as, earthly joys; earthly flowers; earthly praise. "This earthly load Of death, called life." (Milton) "Whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things." (Phil. Iii. 19) 2. Of all things on earth; possible; conceivable. "What earthly benefit can be the result?" (Pope) 3. Made of earth; earthy. Synonym: Gross, material, sordid, mean, base, vile, low, unsubstantial, temporary, corrupt, groveling. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| earthmad | <zoology> The earthworm. "The earthmads and all the sorts of worms . . . Are without eyes." (Holland) Origin: Earth + mad an earthworm. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| earthnut | <botany> A name given to various roots, tubers, or pods grown under or on the ground; as to: The esculent tubers of the umbelliferous plants Bunium flexuosum and Carum Bulbocastanum. The peanut. See Peanut. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| earthpea | <botany> A species of pea (Amphicarpaea monoica). It is a climbing leguminous plant, with hairy underground pods. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| earthquake | A shaking, trembling, or concussion of the earth, due to subterranean causes, often accompanied by a rumbling noise. The wave of shock sometimes traverses half a hemisphere, destroying cities and many thousand lives; called also earthdin, earthquave, and earthshock. Earthquake alarm, a bell signal constructed to operate on the theory that a few seconds before the occurrence of an earthquake the magnet temporarily loses its power. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| earthstar | <botany> A curious fungus of the genus Geaster, in which the outer coating splits into the shape of a star, and the inner one forms a ball containing the dustlike spores. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| earthworm | 1. <zoology> Any worm of the genus Lumbricus and allied genera, found in damp soil. One of the largest and most abundant species in Europe and America is L. Terrestris; many others are known; called also angleworm and dewworm. 2. A mean, sordid person; a niggard. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| earthy | 1. Consisting of, or resembling, earth; terrene; earthlike; as, earthy matter. "How pale she looks, And of an earthy cold!" (Shak) "All over earthy, like a piece of earth." (Tennyson) 2. Of or pertaining to the earth or to, this world; earthly; terrestrial; carnal. "Their earthy charge." "The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy." (1 Cor. Xv. 47, 48 (Rev. Ver)) "Earthy spirits black and envious are." (Dryden) 3. Gross; low; unrefined. "Her earthy and abhorred commands." 4. <chemical> Without luster, or dull and roughish to the touch; as, an earthy fracture. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| alkali earth metal | See: alkaline earth elements. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| alkaline earth | <chemistry> Any of the metallic elements found in the second column of the periodic table, such as calcium and magnesium. (09 Oct 1997) |
| alkaline earth elements | Those element's in the family Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, and Ra, the hydroxides of which are highly ionised and hence alkaline in water solution. (05 Mar 2000) |
| rare earth elements | Those elements with atomic numbers 57-71 which closely resemble one another chemically and were once difficult to separate from one another. Synonym: rare earth elements. Origin: Lanthanum, first element of the series (05 Mar 2000) |
| rare earth metal | Those elements with atomic numbers 57-71 which closely resemble one another chemically and were once difficult to separate from one another. Synonym: rare earth elements. Origin: Lanthanum, first element of the series (05 Mar 2000) |
| rare-earth screen | An intensifying screen made of a rare-earth oxide phosphor, more efficient than calcium tungstate, especially at the higher kilovoltages used in modern radiography. (05 Mar 2000) |
| metals, alkaline earth | Metals that constitute the group IIa in the periodic table. (12 Dec 1998) |
| metals, rare earth | Elements of group IIIb of the periodic table from lanthanum, atomic number 57, to and including lutetium, atomic number 71. (12 Dec 1998) |
| diatomaceous earth | A type of silica-rich dirt which is soft, fine-grained, porous, light-coloured, and composed of the skeletons of diatoms (one-celled marine organisms with skeletons based on silicon). It is used as a filter. (09 Oct 1997) |
| fuller's earth | An amorphous variety of kaolin of varying composition, containing an aluminum magnesium silicate. The name is derived from an ancient process of cleansing or "fulling" wool to remove the oil and dirt particles with a water slurry of earth or clay. A refined clay sometimes used as a dusting powder or applied moistened with water as a form of poultice. Currently refers to any clay that can be used for the purpose of decolorizing in oil refining. Used as decoloriser for oils and other liquids, filtering medium, filler for rubber, and in agricultural formulations. Origin: fr. Fulling, an old process of cleaning wool, with earth or clay (05 Mar 2000) |