LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
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“earth” in Latin

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

earth
Tellus (as a whole, as the centre of the universe, and as a goddess; opposed to to other bodies in the universe, or other divinities; = Γαῖα, Γῆ): terra (as the substance, “earth” [e.g., as thrown out of a trench, etc., terram manibus sagulisque exhaurire], and as one of the elements; also used for Tellus, both as a body in the universe, and as goddess; γαῖα, γῆ): solum (as the solid element; especially opposed to water; hence, solidus, opposed to fluidus = πέδον or ἔδαφος): humus (as the lowest part of the visible world; opposed to sky = also, of the mould thrown out of a pit, etc., = χθών). Things which spring up from the earth, ea, quae gignuntur e terra: to derive their nourishment (sap) from the earth, ex terra succum trahere (Cic.). To turn again to their earth, to return to earth, *in sua initia resolvi: to plant a tree in the earth, arborem terrae defigere (poetically, Verg.): on earth (= in this world), dum erimus in terris (Cic.): a heap or mound of earth, tumulus terreus; terrae congestio: the fruits of the earth, terrae fruges: the earth’s orbit (round the sun), linea, qua terra cursum agit circa solem (after Serv., Aen., 10, 216). The inhabitants of the earth, terrae incolae, or qui incolunt terram.
Potter’s earth, creta figularis: creta, qua utuntur figuli: creta, qua fiunt amphorae.
A fox’s earth, vulpis specus (hole; vulpis fovea is a hole to catch or keep him in); vulpis cubile.
earth v.
TR., infodere or defodere (both with in terram).
Earth up, terram adaggerare: accumulare (technical term in gardening, for heaping up earth to protect the roots of trees, Plin., often). Earthing up (of trees, etc.), accumulatio (technical term).
INTR., defodere se (used IMPROP. by Sen., Consol. ad Marc., 2, extr.): se abdere (hide one’s self): in specum se penetrare et recondere (Gell., 5, 14, 18; of a person).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for earth?
The usual Latin words for “earth” are terra, sōlus, humus; also tellūs, īnfodiō, dēfodiō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.