'Alkaline earths' definitions:

Definition of 'Alkaline earths'

From: GCIDE
  • Earth \Earth\ ([~e]rth), n. [AS. eor[eth]e; akin to OS. ertha, OFries. irthe, D. aarde, OHG. erda, G. erde, Icel. j["o]r[eth], Sw. & Dan. jord, Goth. a[imac]r[thorn]a, OHG. ero, Gr. ?, adv., to earth, and perh. to E. ear to plow.]
  • 1. The globe or planet which we inhabit; the world, in distinction from the sun, moon, or stars. Also, this world as the dwelling place of mortals, in distinction from the dwelling place of spirits. [1913 Webster]
  • That law preserves the earth a sphere And guides the planets in their course. --S. Rogers. [1913 Webster]
  • In heaven, or earth, or under earth, in hell. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. The solid materials which make up the globe, in distinction from the air or water; the dry land. [1913 Webster]
  • God called the dry land earth. --Gen. i. 10. [1913 Webster]
  • He is pure air and fire, and the dull elements of earth and water never appear in him. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. 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. [1913 Webster]
  • Give him a little earth for charity. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. A part of this globe; a region; a country; land. [1913 Webster]
  • Would I had never trod this English earth. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. Worldly things, as opposed to spiritual things; the pursuits, interests, and allurements of this life. [1913 Webster]
  • Our weary souls by earth beguiled. --Keble. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. The people on the globe. [1913 Webster]
  • The whole earth was of one language. --Gen. xi. 1. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. (Chem.) (a) Any earthy-looking metallic oxide, as alumina, glucina, zirconia, yttria, and thoria. (b) A similar oxide, having a slight alkaline reaction, as lime, magnesia, strontia, baryta. [1913 Webster]
  • 8. A hole in the ground, where an animal hides himself; as, the earth of a fox. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
  • They [ferrets] course the poor conies out of their earths. --Holland. [1913 Webster]
  • 9. (Elec.) The connection of any part an electric conductor with the ground; specif., the connection of a telegraph line with the ground through a fault or otherwise.
  • Note: When the resistance of the earth connection is low it is termed a good earth. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  • Note: 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. [1913 Webster]
  • Adamic earth, Bitter earth, Bog earth, Chian earth, etc. See under Adamic, Bitter, etc.
  • Alkaline earths. See under Alkaline.
  • Earth apple. (Bot.) (a) A potato. (b) A cucumber.
  • Earth auger, a form of auger for boring into the ground; -- called also earth borer.
  • Earth bath, a bath taken by immersing the naked body in earth for healing purposes.
  • Earth battery (Physics), a voltaic battery the elements of which are buried in the earth to be acted on by its moisture.
  • Earth chestnut, the pignut.
  • Earth closet, a privy or commode provided with dry earth or a similar substance for covering and deodorizing the f[ae]cal discharges.
  • Earth dog (Zo["o]l.), a dog that will dig in the earth, or enter holes of foxes, etc.
  • Earth hog, Earth pig (Zo["o]l.), the aard-vark.
  • Earth hunger, an intense desire to own land, or, in the case of nations, to extend their domain.
  • Earth light (Astron.), the light reflected by the earth, as upon the moon, and corresponding to moonlight; -- called also earth shine. --Sir J. Herschel.
  • Earth metal. See 1st Earth, 7. (Chem.)
  • Earth oil, petroleum.
  • Earth pillars or Earth pyramids (Geol.), high pillars or pyramids of earth, sometimes capped with a single stone, found in Switzerland. --Lyell.
  • Earth pitch (Min.), mineral tar, a kind of asphaltum.
  • Earth quadrant, a fourth of the earth's circumference.
  • Earth table (Arch.), the lowest course of stones visible in a building; the ground table.
  • On earth, an intensive expression, oftenest used in questions and exclamations; as, What on earth shall I do? Nothing on earth will satisfy him. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]

Words containing 'Alkaline earths'