ground

I

[[t]graʊnd[/t]]

n.

1) the solid surface of the earth; firm or dry land

2) earth or soil:

stony ground[/ex]

3) land having an indicated character:

rising ground[/ex]

4) Often, grounds. a tract of land appropriated to a special use:

picnic grounds; a hunting ground[/ex]

5) Often, grounds. the foundation or basis on which a belief or action rests; reason or cause:

grounds for dismissal[/ex]

6) subject for discussion; topic:

to go repeatedly over the same ground[/ex]

7) rational or factual support for one's position or attitude, as in a debate or argument:

on firm ground[/ex]

8) the main surface or background in painting, decorative work, lace, etc

9) psl the background in a visual field, contrasted with the figure

10) fia a coating of a substance serving as a surface to be worked on, as in painting or etching

11) grounds, dregs or sediment:

coffee grounds[/ex]

12) grounds, the gardens, lawn, etc., surrounding and belonging to a building

13) elm a conducting connection between an electric circuit or equipment and the earth or some other conducting body

14) navig. the bottom of a body of water

15) the earth's solid or liquid surface; land or water

16) mad

ground bass

17) situated on, at, or near the surface of the earth:

a ground attack[/ex]

18) pertaining to the ground

19) mil operating on land:

ground forces[/ex]

20) to lay or set on the ground

21) to place on a foundation; fix firmly; settle or establish; found

22) to instruct in elements or first principles:

to ground students in science[/ex]

23) to furnish with a ground or background, as on decorative work

24) to cover (wallpaper) with colors or other materials before printing

25) elm to establish a ground for (an electric circuit, device, etc.)

26) navig. to cause (a vessel) to run aground

27) aer. to restrict (an aircraft or pilot) to the ground; prevent from flying

28) cvb inf Informal. to restrict the activities, esp. the social activities, of, usu. as a punishment

29) to come to or strike the ground

30) spo to hit a ground ball in baseball

31) phv+spo ground out, baseball to be put out at first base after hitting a ground ball to the infield

•

- break ground cover ground from the ground up gain ground give ground hold or stand one's ground lose ground off the ground on one's own ground on the ground shift ground to ground

- take the high ground

Etymology: bef. 900; ME; OE grund, c. OFris, OS grund, OHG grunt II

ground

[[t]graʊnd[/t]] v.

1) a pt. and pp. of grind

2) reduced to fine particles by grinding

3) having the surface abraded or roughened by or as if by grinding