Meaning & use
earthed
Last updated
“earthed” is a form of “earth”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
adjectivecomparabletechnical
Joined by a wire to the ground so that extra electric current can flow away safely.
Grammar: Often used after be: the cooker must be earthed.
Patterns
- be earthed
The metal casing of the heater is earthed for safety.
An earthed plug has three pins.
Make sure the lamp is properly earthed before use.
verbtransitivetechnical
Connected an electrical device or circuit to the ground for safety.
Grammar: Past tense or past participle of earth; takes an object: the electrician earthed the cable.
Patterns
- earth something to something
The electrician earthed the wiring to the metal frame.
She earthed the antenna to prevent lightning damage.
The old appliances were never properly earthed.
verbtransitiveBritish
Covered the roots or base of a plant with soil, or drove a fox to its hole.
Grammar: Often followed by up for plants: earthed up the potatoes.
Patterns
- earth something up
He earthed up the potatoes to protect the shoots.
Gardeners earthed the leeks in late summer.
The hounds chased the fox until it earthed.
Word forms
| base form | earth |
|---|---|
| third person singular | earths |
| past tense | earthed |
| -ing form | earthing |
Common combinations
- properly earthed
- The socket is properly earthed.
- earthed plug
- Use an earthed plug with this machine.
- earthed wire
- The earthed wire is green and yellow.
- earthed to the ground
- The fence was earthed to the ground.
- earthed up
- The potatoes were earthed up in June.
Synonyms and how they differ
- grounded
- Grounded is the American term for the same electrical connection, while earthed is British.
- insulated
- Insulated means covered to stop current passing, whereas earthed means given a safe path to the ground.
- connected
- Connected is very general and does not imply the safety purpose of earthing.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: earthed or unearthed? earthed or grounded?
earthed vs unearthed
Unearthed means dug up or discovered, or not connected to earth in electrical use, so context matters.
earthed vs grounded
Grounded is American for earthed, but in everyday use it also means punished by being kept at home.
Practice
The electrician warned that the washing machine must be properly ____ to avoid electric shocks.
Choose one answer.
Earthed means connected to the ground for safety, which prevents shocks. The other options do not describe an electrical safeguard.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “earthed”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.