Definition

1. Verb (intransitive):

   • To strike the seabed or shore with a ship's hull, causing the vessel to become stuck and unable to move.
   • To come to a halt or fail to progress due to encountering an obstacle or insurmountable difficulty.

2. Verb (transitive):

   • To cause a vessel to strike the seabed or shore, making it immobile.

Usage

• Intransitive Verb: The subject (usually a ship or boat) performs the action of becoming stuck.
• Transitive Verb: The subject (e.g., a storm, a captain) performs the action of causing the object (a ship) to become stuck.

Examples

• Intransitive Use:
  • The tanker ran aground on a sandbank during the night.
  • Our plans for expansion have run aground due to lack of funding.
• Transitive Use:
  • The inexperienced pilot ran the boat aground.
  • The storm grounded the ship. (As per reference: "the storm grounded the ship.")

Advanced Usage

• Figurative Use: Commonly used metaphorically to describe projects, negotiations, or ideas that have stopped progressing or failed.
  • The peace talks ran aground over the issue of borders.
  • His ambitious proposal ran aground in the committee.

Variants and Related Words

• Ground (verb): To force or cause to hit the ground or bottom. Often used in aviation (to ground a plane) and maritime contexts.
• Aground (adverb/adjective): Describing the state of being stuck on the bottom. (e.g., )
• Strand: To leave someone or something in a difficult position, often similar to 'run aground' for vessels.

Synonyms

• Founder: (of a ship) to fill with water and sink.
• Strand: To cause a boat to become stuck on a shore.
• Beach: To run or haul a vessel onto a beach.
• Hit the rocks: To strike rocky ground (often used figuratively).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Run into: To encounter, especially a problem. (e.g., )
• Run onto: Similar to 'run aground,' but less common. (e.g., )

Related Idioms

• On the rocks: In a state of difficulty or ruin (often for relationships or plans); literally, for a ship that has hit rocks.
  • Their marriage is on the rocks.
• Dead in the water: Completely unable to function or proceed.
  • Without the new data, the research project is dead in the water.

Verb

1. hit or reach the ground
2. bring to the ground
   • the storm grounded the ship