to earth
- verb
- /ɜrθ/
- Archaic
- The fox managed to earth before the hounds could catch it.
Examples
-
The rabbit quickly earthed itself when it sensed danger.
-
When threatened, badgers will earth quickly to avoid danger.
-
Several rabbits tried to earth themselves in the soft soil as the predator approached.
-
When threatened, foxes will earth to avoid predators.
-
The rabbit quickly earthened itself into the ground to escape the hungry fox.
-
When the dog got scared during the storm, it earthened itself beneath the porch.
-
The animal earthened in its den, waiting safely until the danger had passed.
Synonyms
An animal taking shelter in a safe place to sleep through winter
Antonyms
Idioms
- Informal
A kind, honest, reliable person who helps others in their community
- Informal
Disappear completely so no one knows what happened and no sign is left
- Informal
Someone or something disappears completely so nobody knows where they are
Phrasal Verbs
- Specialized
Move in a curved path around Earth like a satellite or spacecraft
Compounds
- Literature
A plan to destroy useful things on purpose so an enemy cannot use them
- Specialized
A soft, light powder made from fossil bits of tiny water plants used to kill insects and filter liquids
- Literature
A female being who people believe looks after the earth, plants, and crops
- UK
A valuable underground mushroom that chefs use to give food a strong, earthy taste
- Archaic
A small outdoor toilet that uses earth to cover waste instead of flushing it
A plant from Europe with small edible tubers that people eat and use to add flavor
- Specialized
The time on Earth when a signal from space arrives, usually given in UTC
- Specialized
A metal in the second column of the periodic table, like magnesium or calcium
- Specialized
A metal like calcium or magnesium that makes substances that are not acidic
- Specialized
A plant that lives for several years with drooping clusters of pink flowers and broad leaves like a lion's paw
How Deep
Surface Forms
Etymology
The verb earth used for animals comes from the noun 'earth' and means to go into the ground to hide, like putting themselves into the 'soil'.