Definition

1. Noun (plural): The solid particles that settle at the bottom of a liquid, especially after brewing or steeping.
2. Noun (plural): A basis or justification for an action, feeling, or belief; a reason or cause.
3. Noun (plural): The land surrounding and belonging to a building or institution, such as a house, school, or hospital.
4. Noun (plural): A foundation for belief or disbelief; evidence or knowledge that serves as a basis for a conclusion.

Usage Examples

• Noun (dregs/residue):
  • She emptied the coffee grounds into the compost bin.
  • After making tea, strain it to remove the grounds.
• Noun (justification/reason):
  • He was dismissed on the grounds of professional misconduct.
  • Do you have any grounds for suspecting him?
• Noun (land around a building):
  • The university grounds are beautifully landscaped.
  • Children are playing on the school grounds.
• Noun (basis for belief/evidence):
  • The scientist presented new grounds for her theory.
  • There are strong grounds to believe the information is accurate.

Advanced Usage

• "on the grounds that...": Used to introduce the specific reason for a decision or action.
  • The application was rejected on the grounds that it was submitted too late.
• "to give grounds for...": To provide a reason or justification for something.
  • His strange behavior gave grounds for concern.

Variants and Related Words

• Ground (noun, singular): The solid surface of the earth; soil; a basis for an argument or action (e.g., ).
• Ground (verb): To connect an electrical device to the earth; to prohibit a pilot or aircraft from flying; to base an idea or argument on something.
• Grounding (noun): Basic training or instruction in a subject; the connection of an electrical conductor to the earth.

Synonyms

• For justification/reason: Basis, foundation, cause, rationale, motive.
• For land/property: Premises, estate, campus, yard, land.
• For residue: Sediment, dregs, lees, deposit.

Related Phrases

• Break new ground: To do something innovative or pioneering.
• Cover (a lot of) ground: To deal with or travel over a large area or many topics.
• Gain ground: To make progress or become more popular.
• Stand one's ground: To refuse to retreat or change one's opinion.

Idioms

• On shaky ground: In a weak or uncertain position, especially in an argument or claim.
  • His accusations are on shaky ground without any proof.
• Get off the ground: To start or begin successfully.
  • The new project is struggling to get off the ground.

Noun

1. dregs consisting of solid particles (especially of coffee) that form a residue
   • it is a Middle Eastern custom to read your future in your coffee grounds
2. a justification for something existing or happening
   • he had no cause to complain
   • they had good reason to rejoice
3. a tract of land cleared for some special purposes (recreation or burial etc.)
4. the enclosed land around a house or other building
   • it was a small house with almost no yard
5. your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
   • the evidence that smoking causes lung cancer is very compelling