433
easily
**earth**
inner core
outer core
crust
inner mantle
outer mantle
you doing? **| Who on earth told you that? 10 make the earth move** *infml* to achieve the highest point of sexual pleasure: *He promised he'd make the earth move.* **11 did the earth move for you?** *humor* a phrase used after having sex to ask one's partner whether they felt the highest point of sexual pleasure **12 run (something/someone) to earth** *BrE* to find (something/someone) by searching everywhere: *After searching for him everywhere, she finally ran him to earth in the garden shed.* **13 earth to (someone)** especially *AmE humor* a way of getting someone's attention when they are not listening or aren't understanding; based on SCIENCE-FICTION stories, in which people on different PLANETS talk to each other by radio: *Earth to Joan, earth to Joan — can you hear me, Joan?* $\rightarrow$ see also DOWN-TO-EARTH, **promise someone the earth (PROMISE²), the salt of the earth (SALT¹)**
**earth²** *BrE* || **ground** *AmE* — *v* [T] to connect (a piece of electrical equipment) to the ground with a wire $\rightarrow$ compare EARTH¹
**earth·bound** /'ɜːθbaʊnd||'ɜːrθ-/ *adj* **1** unable to leave the surface of the earth **2** unable to rise above ordinary practical matters
**earth·en** /'ɜːθən, -ðən||'ɜːr-/ *adj* made of earth or baked clay: *an earthen floor/pot*
**earth·en·ware** /'ɜːθənweəʳ, -ðən-||'ɜːr-/ *n* [U] **1** (cups, dishes, pots etc made of) rather rough baked clay: *an earthenware flowerpot* $\rightarrow$ compare PORCELAIN **2** *AmE* for CROCKERY
**Earth Libe'ration ,Front, the** an environmental group that works mostly in the US and Canada. The group destroys the property of companies or people that they believe are harming the environment or animals. Because of this, the FBI has called them a TERRORIST group.
**earth·ling** /'ɜːθlɪŋ||'ɜːrθ-/ *n* (in SCIENCE FICTION stories) a human being when addressed or talked about by a creature from another world: *'Take me to your leader, earthling,' said the green creature from the spacecraft.*
**earth·ly** /'ɜːθli||'ɜːrθli/ *adj* [A] **1** of this world as opposed to heaven; material: *all my earthly possessions* **2** [usually in questions or negatives] *infml* possible: *There's no earthly reason for me to go.* **3 not have an earthly** [usually in questions or negatives] *BrE infml* not to have the slightest chance/hope/idea: *'Will John win the prize?' 'No, he hasn't an earthly.'*
**earth ,mother** *n* **1** also **mother earth** — the earth, when it is believed to be the mother of life, or to have its own SPIRIT or to be a GODDESS **2** a woman who thinks it is more important to be kind and look after other people, and to feel close to nature, than it is to worry about money, success, or her appearance
CULTURAL NOTE This expression is often used in a disapproving way by people who think that this sort of woman is rather silly. These people disagree with what they see as her SENTIMENTAL ideas about nature and caring for people, and believe that her political opinions are too LEFT WING.
**earth·quake** /'ɜːθkweɪk||'ɜːrθ-/ *n* a sudden shaking of the earth's surface, which may be violent enough to cause great damage: *The town was destroyed by the earthquake.*
CULTURAL NOTE In the US there is a major FAULT (=a crack in the rocks that form the Earth's surface) called the San Andreas Fault that runs from the north to the south of California. Serious earthquakes are common there, as well as in Alaska. $\rightarrow$ see also TECTONIC PLATE
**'earth ,science** *n* any of the sciences such as GEOLOGY, METEOROLOGY, or OCEANOGRAPHY, that deal with parts of the earth and natural processes which happen there
**earth-shat·ter·ing** /'ɜːθ,ʃætərɪŋ||'ɜːrθ-/ also **earth·shak·ing** /-,ʃeɪkɪŋ/ *adj* of the greatest importance to the whole world: *The President's assassination was an event of earthshattering importance. | Our trip to Dundee wasn't exactly an earthshattering event!* —**~ly** *adv*
**'Earth ,Summit** a large international meeting held in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil in 1992, at which the leaders of the countries of the United Nations discussed ways of protecting the environment and preserving the Earth's BIODIVERSITY (=all the different plants and animals on the Earth). It is sometimes also called the Rio Summit.
**earth·ward** /'ɜːθwəd||'ɜːrθwərd/ *adj* towards the earth, especially from the air or space $\rightarrow$ compare LANDWARD
**earth·wards** /'ɜːθwədz||'ɜːrθwərdz/ especially *BrE* || usually **earthward** *AmE* — *adv* towards the earth, especially from the air or space $\rightarrow$ compare LANDWARDS
**earth·work** /'ɜːθwɜːk||'ɜːrθwɜːrk/ *n* [usually pl.] a man-made bank of earth used especially formerly as a protection against enemy attack. Such a bank used now might be called a BUND.
**earth·worm** /'ɜːθwɜːm||'ɜːrθwɜːrm/ *n* a common kind of long thin worm which lives in the soil
**earth·y** /'ɜːθi||'ɜːrθi/ *adj* **1** of or like earth: *potatoes with an earthy taste* **2** concerned with things of the body rather than with things of the mind, especially in a way that is direct and perhaps impolite: *an earthy sense of humour* **3** *AmE, infml* practical and honest; DOWN-TO-EARTH —**-iness** *n*
**'ear ,trumpet** *n* a tube that becomes wider at one end, used in the past by people who could not hear well for making sounds louder by putting the narrow end to the ear. They are often used or shown in jokes about old people with poor hearing.
**ear·wig** /'ɪə,wɪɡ||'ɪər-/ *n* an insect with two curved toothlike parts on its tail, a long thin body, and several pairs of legs
**ease¹** /iːz/ *n* [U] **1** the ability to do something without difficulty: *They are expected to win the election with ease. | The government is very concerned about the ease with which the terrorists got onto the plane.* **2** the state of being comfortable and without worries or problems: *Gloria is a rich woman now, and lives a life of ease. | He didn't feel completely at (his) ease in the strange surroundings.* (=he felt nervous and uncomfortable) | *Give her a drink to put her at her ease.* **3 (stand) at ease** (used as a military command) (to stand) with one's feet apart and one's hands behind one's back $\rightarrow$ compare **at attention (ATTENTION¹), stand easy (EASY²)** **4 take one's ease** *fml* to rest from work or effort $\rightarrow$ see also EASY, ILL AT EASE
**ease²** *v* **1** [I(OFF);T] to make or become less severe: *I gave him some medicine to ease the pain. | The pain began to ease (off).* **2** [T] to make less anxious: *I eased her mind by telling her that the children were safe.* **3** [I] to become less troublesome or difficult: *Tensions in the region have eased a little.* **4** [T+obj+adv / prep] to move slowly and carefully into a different position: *The drawer in my desk was stuck fast, but I eased it open with a knife. | He eased himself slowly into the hot bath. | (fig.) She's never been a great success in the job, and now they're trying to **ease her out**. (=make her leave without actually dismissing her)*
**ease off/up** *phr v* [I] *infml* to become less active: *The rain is beginning to ease off. | The doctor told me to ease up a bit and stop working so hard.*
**ea·sel** /'iːzəl/ *n* a wooden frame on which one can place a picture while it is being painted. Easels were formerly used to support BLACKBOARDS and still appear in humorous drawings of classrooms. $\rightarrow$ see picture at ARTIST
**eas·i·ly** /'iːzəli/ *adv* **1** without difficulty: *I can easily finish it today.* **2** without doubt: *She is easily the best student in the class.*