Definition

1. Noun:

   • The solid surface of the Earth: The firm, solid part of the earth's surface, as opposed to the sea or air.
   • Soil, earth, or land: The material in the top layer of the earth's surface, especially considered in terms of quality or use.
   • An area of land used for a specific purpose: A piece of land designated for a particular activity, such as a sports ground.
   • A basis or foundation for something: The underlying support, reason, or justification for an idea, argument, or feeling.
   • A background or underlying surface: In art, the prepared surface or the part of a picture that appears to be farthest from the viewer.
   • An electrical connection to the earth: A safety connection in an electrical circuit that provides a path for current to flow safely into the earth.

2. Verb:

   • To prohibit an aircraft or pilot from flying: To prevent an aircraft or its crew from taking off.
   • To provide a basis or foundation for something: To base an argument, theory, or belief on something.
   • To connect an electrical device to the earth: To make an electrical connection to the ground for safety.
   • To cause a ship to touch the sea bottom: To run a ship aground.
   • To instruct someone in the basic principles of a subject: To teach someone the fundamentals.
   • To hit a baseball along the ground: In baseball, to hit the ball so it rolls or bounces along the ground.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The children sat on the ground to have a picnic.
  • This is fertile ground for growing vegetables.
  • The football team practiced on the school ground.
  • His suspicions were based on solid ground.
  • The artist painted flowers on a blue ground.
  • Ensure the appliance has a proper electrical ground.

• Verb:

  • The airline had to ground all flights due to the storm.
  • Her theory is grounded in extensive research.
  • An electrician must ground the wiring correctly.
  • The captain accidentally grounded the ship on a sandbar.
  • A good teacher grounds students in the basics first.
  • The batter grounded out to the shortstop.

Advanced Usage

• "to gain ground": to make progress or become more popular or accepted.

  • The new political movement is quickly gaining ground.

• "to break new ground": to do something innovative or pioneering.

  • The scientist's research broke new ground in cancer treatment.

• "to stand/hold one's ground": to refuse to retreat or change one's opinion.

  • Despite criticism, she stood her ground.

• "to get off the ground": to start successfully or begin to make progress.

  • The new project struggled to get off the ground.

Variants and Related Words

• Grounding (n): Basic training or instruction in a subject; the act of connecting electrically to the ground.

  • The course provides a solid grounding in mathematics.

• Groundless (adj): Without foundation or good reason.

  • His fears proved to be groundless.

• Underground (adj/adv/n): Beneath the surface of the ground; secret or hidden.

  • They took the underground train.

• Background (n): The part of a scene or picture furthest from the viewer; a person's experience or history.

  • He has a strong academic background.

Synonyms

• Noun: Earth, soil, land, terrain, foundation, basis, rationale.
• Verb: Base, found, root, prohibit from flying, strand, beach.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Ground in: To provide someone with a firm understanding or training in a subject.

  • She is well grounded in classical literature.

• Ground out (Baseball): To be put out by hitting a ground ball that is fielded.

  • The inning ended when he grounded out.

Related Idioms

• Down to the ground: Completely or perfectly.

  • This new job suits him down to the ground.

• Cover a lot of ground: To deal with many topics or travel a great distance.

  • The lecture covered a lot of ground in just one hour.

• On shaky ground: In an unstable or risky position.

  • His argument is on shaky ground.

Verb

1. use as a basis for; found on
   • base a claim on some observation
2. connect to a ground
   • ground the electrical connections for safety reasons
3. cover with a primer; apply a primer to
4. hit onto the ground
5. hit a groundball
   • he grounded to the second baseman
6. throw to the ground in order to stop play and avoid being tackled behind the line of scrimmage
7. hit or reach the ground
8. bring to the ground
   • the storm grounded the ship
9. instruct someone in the fundamentals of a subject
10. place or put on the ground
11. confine or restrict to the ground
    • After the accident, they grounded the plane and the pilot
12. fix firmly and stably
    • anchor the lamppost in concrete

Noun

1. the first or preliminary coat of paint or size applied to a surface
2. (art) the surface (as a wall or canvas) prepared to take the paint for a painting
3. a connection between an electrical device and a large conducting body, such as the earth (which is taken to be at zero voltage)
4. a relatively homogeneous percept extending back of the figure on which attention is focused
5. material in the top layer of the surface of the earth in which plants can grow (especially with reference to its quality or use)
   • the land had never been plowed
   • good agricultural soil
6. the part of a scene (or picture) that lies behind objects in the foreground
   • he posed her against a background of rolling hills
7. a position to be won or defended in battle (or as if in battle)
   • they gained ground step by step
   • they fought to regain the lost ground
8. a relation that provides the foundation for something
   • they were on a friendly footing
   • he worked on an interim basis
9. the loose soft material that makes up a large part of the land surface
   • they dug into the earth outside the church
10. a rational motive for a belief or action
    • the reason that war was declared
    • the grounds for their declaration
11. the solid part of the earth's surface
    • the plane turned away from the sea and moved back over land
    • the earth shook for several minutes
    • he dropped the logs on the ground