📖 E — The English dictionary · page 2

earmark — Everyday, meaning 1: (verb) To set money or something aside for a special purpose.↗ e.g. The money is earmarked for a new playground.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (noun) A mark cut or tagged on a farm animal's ear to show who owns it.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (noun) A sign or feature that shows what something is.↗ e.g. It has all the earmarks of a good book.↗ Example: The school earmarked $500 for new books.↗ · This field is earmarked for a new park.↗ · The farmer checked the sheep's earmarks.↗ · The plan has all the earmarks of success.↗ · We earmarked Saturday for cleaning the garage.↗ · Of $100, $30 is earmarked for food, so $70 is left for other things.↗

earmarks — Everyday, meaning 1: (US politics) money in a budget set aside for a politician's favourite local projects, often criticised as waste.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (verb) to set aside money or something for a purpose.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (literal) a mark on an animal's ear.↗ Example: The bill was full of earmarks for local bridges and museums.↗ · The school earmarked 500 dollars for new books.↗ · Critics call earmarks a waste of tax money.↗ · The council earmarked the field for a new park.↗ · Farmers once put earmarks on sheep to show the owner.↗ · The senator defended his earmarks.↗

earmuff — Everyday, meaning 1: A soft, warm cover for one ear; usually a pair of these joined by a band over the head, called earmuffs.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Ear defenders: hard earmuffs that protect ears from loud noise.↗ Example: I wear fluffy earmuffs when it snows.↗ · The builder wore earmuffs to block the noise of the drill.↗ · Grandma knitted me a pair of earmuffs.↗ · My little brother wore earmuffs at the fireworks show.↗ · Her pink earmuffs matched her mittens.↗ · Put your earmuffs on, it's freezing!↗

earn — Everyday, meaning 1: To earn means to get money because you did work.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To earn is also to get something good because you deserve it, like earning points, praise or a badge.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Money can earn interest in a bank.↗ Example: She earns $10 an hour.↗ · He earned $45 mowing lawns.↗ · How much does she earn in 5 hours?↗ · They earn 3 points for each win.↗ · I earn pocket money by washing the car.↗ · She earned a badge at Scouts.↗ · You earn trust by telling the truth.↗ · Money in the bank earns interest.↗ · 'Oh, I earned them myself,' answered he.↗

earnestly — Everyday, meaning 1: In a serious and sincere way, really meaning what you say or do.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Trying hard and with great care.↗ Example: «I promise I'll tidy my room,» said Tom earnestly.↗ · She earnestly hoped her lost cat would come home.↗ · The children listened earnestly to the firefighter.↗ · He worked earnestly on his science project.↗ · «Please believe me,» she said earnestly.↗ · They earnestly asked for help.↗ · “Is there no one who can help me?” asked Dorothy earnestly.↗ · And Judah spoke unto him, saying: 'The man did earnestly forewarn us, saying: Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.↗ (Torah GEN.43.3, JPS 1917)↗ · And Balak said unto Balaam: 'Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?'↗ (Torah NUM.22.37, JPS 1917)↗ · And Jonathan answered Saul: 'David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beth-lehem; (Prophets 1SA.20.28, JPS 1917)↗ · If thou wouldest seek earnestly unto God, and make thy supplication to the Almighty; (Writings JOB.8.5, JPS 1917)↗ · I love them that love me, and those that seek me earnestly shall find me.↗ (Writings PRO.8.17, JPS 1917)↗

earnestness — Everyday, meaning 1: Earnestness is being serious and sincere, meaning what you say and do.↗ Example: He spoke with great earnestness.↗ · Her earnestness made everyone listen.↗ · She worked with such earnestness that she finished first.↗

earnings — Everyday, meaning 1: (money) The money a person gets for working: wages or salary.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (money) The profit a business makes.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Money you get from any work, like pocket money for chores.↗ Example: Mum's earnings went up when she got a new job.↗ · My earnings from washing cars were 15 pounds.↗ · If you earn 6 dollars an hour, your earnings for 5 hours are 30 dollars.↗ · The company reported big earnings.↗ · She saved half her earnings.↗ · Taxes are taken from your earnings.↗ · They were so poor that they could save nothing at all; all their earnings went in bare food, and when that was gone there was nothing left.↗

earpiece — Everyday, meaning 1: The part of a phone, headphones or other device that you hold to or put in your ear to hear sound.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A tiny speaker worn in the ear, used by security guards, TV presenters or with hearing aids.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: One of the arms of a pair of glasses that rest over the ears.↗ Example: The security guard listened to his earpiece.↗ · The newsreader heard the producer through her earpiece.↗ · My earpiece fell out when I was running.↗ · The doctor put the stethoscope earpieces in her ears.↗ · One earpiece of my glasses is bent.↗ · Dad uses an earpiece to talk on the phone while driving.↗

earplug — Everyday, meaning 1: A small soft piece of foam, wax or rubber you put in your ear to keep out noise or water.↗ Example: I wear earplugs because my brother snores.↗ · Swimmers use earplugs to keep water out.↗ · Workers with loud machines must wear earplugs.↗ · She put in her earplugs at the noisy concert.↗ · A pack has 10 pairs of earplugs, so 20 earplugs.↗ · Earplugs help protect your hearing.↗

earring — Everyday, meaning 1: An earring is a piece of jewellery worn on the ear, usually through a small hole in the earlobe.↗ Example: She wore shiny gold earrings.↗ · I got my ears pierced and wore my first earrings.↗ · Take out your earrings before PE.↗ · Grandma gave me a pair of earrings.↗ · One earring fell off at the park.↗ · Clip-on earrings don't need a hole in your ear.↗ · The grocer’s wife was so terrified that she took her gold earrings out of her ears and put them in her pocket in order to save something.↗ · And I put a ring upon thy nose, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thy head.↗ (Prophets EZK.16.12, JPS 1917)↗

earth — Everyday, meaning 1: The planet we live on, the third planet from the Sun (often written Earth).↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Soil, the brown stuff that plants grow in.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: The ground or land, not the sea or sky.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: In British English, a wire that makes electricity safe (a ground wire in American English).↗ Example: We live on planet Earth.↗ · The Earth goes around the Sun.↗ · Plant the seeds in the earth.↗ · Most of the Earth is covered by water.↗ · Worms live in the earth.↗ · What on earth are you doing?↗ · The astronauts came back to Earth.↗ · She is a down-to-earth person.↗ · IN THE beginning God created the heaven and the earth.↗ (Torah GEN.1.1, JPS 1917)↗ · Thou stretchedst out Thy right hand — the earth swallowed them.↗ (Torah EXO.15.12, JPS 1917)↗ · And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.↗ (Torah GEN.7.12, JPS 1917)↗ · Shout unto God, all the earth; (Writings PSA.66.1, JPS 1917)↗ · Shout unto the LORD, all the earth.↗ (Writings PSA.100.1, JPS 1917)↗ · Thou dost cleave the earth with rivers.↗ (Prophets HAB.3.9, JPS 1917)↗

earthen — Everyday, meaning 1: Earthen means made of baked clay or earth.↗ Example: She carried water in an earthen pitcher.↗ · The earthen pot was cracked.↗ · The children made an earthen oven in the garden.↗ · And he shall kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water.↗ (Torah LEV.14.50, JPS 1917)↗ · And the priest shall command to kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water.↗ (Torah LEV.14.5, JPS 1917)↗ · And every earthen vessel whereinto any of them falleth, whatsoever is in it shall be unclean, and it ye shall break.↗ (Torah LEV.11.33, JPS 1917)↗ · Burning lips and a wicked heart are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.↗ (Writings PRO.26.23, JPS 1917)↗ · brought beds, and basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and meal, and parched corn, and beans, and lentils, and parched pulse, (Prophets 2SA.17.28, JPS 1917)↗ · The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!↗ (Writings LAM.4.2, JPS 1917)↗

earthenware — Everyday, meaning 1: Earthenware is pots, dishes and jars made of baked clay, usually thick and not very shiny.↗ Example: The shelf was full of earthenware bowls.↗ · The pot was made of earthenware.↗ · Earthenware breaks if you drop it on a stone floor.↗

earthly — Everyday, meaning 1: Of this world and this life, not of heaven.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (informal, with no, any or why) At all; possible, as in «no earthly use» or «why on earth».↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Of the planet Earth, as opposed to space.↗ Example: There's no earthly reason why you can't finish your homework now.↗ · Why on earth did you paint the cat blue?↗ · He gave away his earthly possessions and became a monk.↗ · Christians believe that earthly life is not the end.↗ · That old bike is no earthly use to anyone.↗ · The Bible says not to store up treasures on earth but in heaven.↗ · The alien had never tasted earthly food.↗ · She hasn't an earthly chance of winning.↗ · He who filled her every thought! he whom she loved best, and who was her whole earthly pride!↗

earthquake — Everyday, meaning 1: An earthquake is a sudden, violent shaking of the ground caused by movement of the rocks deep inside the Earth.↗ Example: The earthquake shook the whole city.↗ · During an earthquake, drop, cover and hold on.↗ · New Zealand has many earthquakes.↗ · Earthquakes happen where tectonic plates meet.↗ · Some buildings are built to survive earthquakes.↗ · An earthquake under the sea can cause a tsunami.↗ · We practised an earthquake drill at school.↗ · For many hours the king walked, and at length he reached a high rock, which was rent into two by a great earthquake.↗ · and after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.↗ (Prophets 1KI.19.12, JPS 1917)↗ · There shall be a visitation from the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with whirlwind and tempest, and the flame of a devouring fire.↗ (Prophets ISA.29.6, JPS 1917)↗

earthworm — Everyday, meaning 1: A long, soft, pink-brown worm without legs that lives in soil and eats dead leaves and bits of plants.↗ Example: We found an earthworm when we dug the garden.↗ · Earthworms help make the soil healthy.↗ · After the rain, lots of earthworms were on the path.↗ · An earthworm has no eyes, no legs and no bones.↗ · Birds pull earthworms out of the lawn.↗ · Put the earthworm back gently in the soil.↗ · Our class worm farm turns food scraps into compost.↗

earthy — Everyday, meaning 1: Earthy means made of or tasting of soil, dirt or the ground.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Earthy also means plain, rough and close to nature, not fancy.↗ Example: The carrots had an earthy taste.↗ · They dug a hole in the earthy bed of the river.↗ · The soup was thick and earthy.↗ · Her jokes were earthy but kind.↗

earwax — Everyday, meaning 1: Earwax is the soft yellow or brown waxy stuff that the body makes inside the ear canal.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: It protects the ear by catching dust and germs and keeping the skin from drying out.↗ Example: Earwax helps keep dirt out of your ears.↗ · Never poke cotton buds into your ear to remove earwax.↗ · The doctor put drops in my ear to soften the earwax.↗ · Earwax can be yellow, orange or brown.↗ · Too much earwax can make it hard to hear.↗ · In the story, the troll had earwax as thick as butter.↗

earwig — Everyday, meaning 1: A small brown insect with a long body and a pair of pincers at its tail end.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (UK, informal) To listen secretly to other people's conversations, as in «Stop earwigging!».↗ Example: We found earwigs under the flowerpot.↗ · An earwig has pincers on its tail.↗ · Earwigs come out at night to eat.↗ · Earwigs do not really crawl into your ears.↗ · Stop earwigging on our conversation!↗ · Mum said I was earwigging when I listened at the door.↗ · Effie's brother Harry fished something out of his tea, which he thought at first was an earwig.↗

ease — Everyday, meaning 1: Ease means with no difficulty: doing something easily.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Ease means a calm, relaxed, comfortable feeling.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: To ease is to make pain, worry or a problem less.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: To ease something is to move it slowly and carefully.↗ Example: She won the race with ease.↗ · The kind teacher put the new boy at ease.↗ · The medicine eased the pain in my knee.↗ · He eased the door open so it wouldn't creak.↗ · The rain eased off in the afternoon.↗ · Ease up, you're pulling too hard!↗ · I feel at ease with my best friend.↗ · "It might ease your heart a little," she said.↗ · One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet; (Writings JOB.21.23, JPS 1917)↗ · And I will walk at ease, for I have sought Thy precepts; (Writings PSA.119.45, JPS 1917)↗ · When I say: 'My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint'; (Writings JOB.7.13, JPS 1917)↗

easily — Everyday, meaning 1: Easily means without difficulty: «She solved it easily».↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Easily means very quickly or very likely: «Glass breaks easily».↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Easily can mean clearly, without doubt: «It is easily the best cake».↗ Example: I can easily reach the top shelf.↗ · Paper tears easily.↗ · Dry leaves catch fire easily.↗ · She won the race easily.↗ · Puppies get tired easily.↗ · This is easily the biggest pumpkin I've seen.↗ · You can easily check the answer by adding.↗ · He gets upset easily, so be kind.↗ · I know how easily accidents happen.↗ · And Abimelech said: 'What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might easily have lain with thy wife, and thou wouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.'↗ (Torah GEN.26.10, JPS 1917)↗ · 44) This whole paragraph is an interpolation of an unknown hand, as it can be easily proved.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877)↗