/ɜ:θ ||; ɝθ/noun1 (also the earththe Earth) [sing] the world; the planet on which we live 地球: life on earth 地球上的生物The earth goes round the sun. 地球绕太阳公转。 ☞Look at the solar system. 参看the solar system。
2 [sing] the surface of the world; land 地面；陆地: The spaceship fell towards earth. 宇宙飞船朝地面落下来。I could feel the earth shake when the earthquake started. 地震发生时，我感觉得地面在摇晃。
3 [U] the substance that plants grow in; soil 泥土；土壤: The earth around here is very fertile. 这一带的土壤很肥沃。 ☞Look at the note at ground. 参看 ground 的注释。
4 [C] [usu.sing] (US 美 ground) a wire that makes a piece of electrical equipment safer by connecting it to the ground （电器的）地线 ☞picture at plug 见plug插图
charge/pay the earth(
informal 非正式) to charge/pay a very large amount of money 索取高价；支付大笔钱:
Dan must have paid the earth for that new car. 丹买那辆新车肯定花了一大笔钱。 cost the earth/a fortune→
COST²
how/why/where/who etc on earth(
informal 非正式) used for emphasizing sth or expressing surprise （表示强调或吃惊）到底怎么样，为什么，哪里，谁…:
Where on earth have you been? 你到底上哪儿去了？