Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Earn \Earn\, n. (Zo["o]l.)
   See {Ern}, n. --Sir W. Scott.

Earn \Earn\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Earned}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Earning}.] [AS. earnian; akin to OHG. arn?n to reap, aran
   harvest, G. ernte, Goth. asans harvest, asneis hireling, AS.
   esne; cf. Icel. ["o]nn working season, work.]
   1. To merit or deserve, as by labor or service; to do that
      which entitles one to (a reward, whether the reward is
      received or not).

            The high repute Which he through hazard huge must
            earn.                                 --Milton.

   2. To acquire by labor, service, or performance; to deserve
      and receive as compensation or wages; as, to earn a good
      living; to earn honors or laurels.

            I earn that [what] I eat.             --Shak.

            The bread I have earned by the hazard of my life or
            the sweat of my brow.                 --Burke.

   {Earned run} (Baseball), a run which is made without the
      assistance of errors on the opposing side.

   Syn: See {Obtain}.

Earn \Earn\, v. t. & i. [See 1st {Yearn}.]
   To grieve. [Obs.]

Earn \Earn\, v. i. [See 4th {Yearn}.]
   To long; to yearn. [Obs.]

         And ever as he rode, his heart did earn To prove his
         puissance in battle brave.               --Spenser.

Earn \Earn\, v. i. [AS. irnan to run. [root]11. See {Rennet},
   and cf. {Yearnings}.]
   To curdle, as milk. [Prov. Eng.]

Source : WordNet®

earn
     v 1: earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as
          salary or wages; "How much do you make a month in your
          new job?"; "She earns a lot in her new job"; "this
          merger brought in lots of money"; "He clears $5,000 each
          month" [syn: {gain}, {take in}, {clear}, {make}, {realize},
           {realise}, {pull in}, {bring in}]
     2: acquire or deserve by one's efforts or actions [syn: {garner}]

Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

EARN
     
         {European Academic and Research
        Network}.
     
        (1995-11-15)