Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense grounds, present participle grounding, past tense, past participle grounded
1. singular noun
The ground is the surface of the earth.
Forty or fifty women were sitting cross-legged on the ground.
We slid down the roof and dropped to the ground.
See above ground/below ground
2. singular noun [oft NOUN noun]
If you say that something takes place on theground, you mean it takes place on the surface of the earth and not in the air.
Coordinating airline traffic on the ground is as complicated as managing the trafficin the air.
3. singular noun
Theground is the soil and rock on the earth's surface.
The ground had eroded.
...the marshy ground of the river delta. [+ of]
Synonyms: soil, earth, dust, mould More Synonyms of ground
4. uncountable noun
You can refer to land as ground, especially when it has very few buildings or when it is considered to be special in some way.
...a stretch of waste ground.
This memorial stands on sacred ground.
Synonyms: land, country, field, turf More Synonyms of ground
5. countable noun
You can use ground to refer to an area of land, sea, or air which is used for a particular activity.
...Indian hunting grounds.
The best fishing grounds are around the islands.
6. countable noun
A ground is an area of land which is specially designed and made for playing sport or forsome other activity. In American English grounds is also used.
...the city's football ground.
...a parade ground.
Synonyms: arena, pitch, stadium, park More Synonyms of ground
7. plural noun [noun NOUN]
The grounds of a large or important building are the garden or area of land which surrounds it.
...the palace grounds.
...the grounds of the University. [+ of]
8. variable noun
You can use ground to refer to a place or situation in which particular methods or ideas can developand be successful.
The company has maintained its reputation as the developing ground for new techniques. [+ for]
Colonialism is especially fertile ground for nationalist ideas. [+ for]
9. uncountable noun [oft on adj N]
You can use ground in expressions such as on shaky ground and the same ground to refer to a particular subject, area of experience, or basis for an argument.
Sensing she was on shaky ground, Marie changed the subject.
The French are on solid ground when they argue that competitiveness is no reasonfor devaluation.
It's often necessary to go over the same ground more than once.
10. uncountable noun
Ground is used in expressions such as gain ground, lose ground, and give ground in order to indicate that someone gets or loses an advantage.
[journalism]
There are signs that the party is gaining ground in the latest polls.
The U.S. dollar lost more ground.
11. variable noun
If something is grounds for a feeling or action, it is a reason for it. If you do something on the grounds of a particular thing, that thing is the reason for your action.
In the interview he gave some grounds for optimism. [+ for]
The court overturned that decision on the grounds that the Prosecution had withheldcrucial evidence.
Owen was against it, on the grounds of expense. [+ of]
12. verb
If an argument, belief, or opinion is grounded in something, that thing is used to justify it.
Her argument was grounded in fact. [beVERB-ed + in]
They believe the soul is immortal, grounding this belief on the Divine nature ofthe human spirit. [VERB noun + on]
Synonyms: base, found, establish, set More Synonyms of ground
13. verb
If an aircraft or its passengers are grounded, they are made to stay on the ground and are not allowed to take off.
The civil aviation minister ordered all the planes to be grounded. [beVERB-ed]
He did not give the order to ground the shuttle, but he concurred with it. [VERB noun]
14. verb
When parents ground a child, they forbid them to go out and enjoy themselves for a period of time, as a punishment.
Thompson grounded him for a month, and banned television. [VERB noun]
15. verb
If a ship or boat is grounded or if it grounds, it touches the bottom of the sea, lake, or river it is on, and is unable to move off.
Residents have been told to stay away from the region where the ship was grounded. [beVERB-ed]
The boat finally grounded on a soft, underwater bank. [VERB]
...a grounded oil tanker. [VERB-ed]
16. countable noun [usually singular]
The ground in an electric plug or piece of electrical equipment is the wire through which electricity passes into the ground and which makes the equipment safe.
[US]regional note: in BRIT, use earth
17. adjective
Ground meat has been cut into very small pieces in a machine.
[mainly US]
...ground beef.
...The sausages are made of coarsely ground pork.
regional note: in BRIT, usually use minced
18.
Ground is the past tense and past participle of grind.
19. See also grounding, home ground
20.
See to break new ground
21.
See to burn something to the ground
22.
See common ground
23.
See go to ground
24. phrase
If you hit the ground running, you start working quickly or effectively from the time when something first begins.
It is beneficial to an employer to hire someone who knows the ropes and can hit theground running.
25.
See middle ground
26.
See off the ground
27.
See on one's own ground
28.
See prepare the ground
29.
See shift one's ground/change one's ground
30.
See to stand your ground
31.
See stand one's ground
32.
See suit sb down to the ground
33.
See thin on the ground
34. to have one's ear to the ground
More Synonyms of ground
ground in British English1
(ɡraʊnd)
noun
1.
the land surface
2.
earth or soil
he dug into the ground outside his house
3. (plural)
the land around a dwelling house or other building
4. (sometimes plural)
an area of land given over to a purpose
football ground
burial grounds
5.
land having a particular characteristic
level ground
high ground
6.
matter for consideration or debate; field of research or inquiry
the lecture was familiar ground to him
the report covered a lot of ground
7.
a position or viewpoint, as in an argument or controversy (esp in the phrases give ground, hold, stand,orshift one's ground)
8.
position or advantage, as in a subject or competition (esp in the phrases gain ground, lose ground, etc)
9. (often plural)
reason; justification
grounds for complaint
10. arts
a.
the prepared surface applied to the support of a painting, such as a wall, canvas, etc, to prevent it reacting with or absorbing the paint
b.
the support of a painting
c.
the background of a painting or main surface against which the other parts of a work of art appearsuperimposed
11.
a.
the first coat of paint applied to a surface
b.
(as modifier)
ground colour
12.
the bottom of a river or the sea
13. (plural)
sediment or dregs, esp from coffee
14. mainly British
the floor of a room
15. cricket
a.
the area from the popping crease back past the stumps, in which a batsman may legally stand
b.
ground staff
16. ground bass
17.
a mesh or network supporting the main pattern of a piece of lace
18. electrical, US and Canadian
a.
a connection between an electrical circuit or device and the earth, which is at zero potential
b. Also called: earth
a terminal to which this connection is made
19. above ground
20. below ground
21. break new ground
22. cut the ground from under someone's feet
23. get off the ground
24. go to ground
25. hit the ground running
26. into the ground
27. meet someone on his or her own ground
28. the high ground
29. to the ground
30. touch ground
31. (modifier)
situated on, living on, or used on the ground
ground frost
ground forces
32. (modifier)
concerned with or operating on the ground, esp as distinct from in the air
ground crew
ground hostess
33. (modifier)
(used in names of plants) low-growing and often trailing or spreading
verb
34. (transitive)
to put or place on the ground
35. (transitive)
to instruct in fundamentals
36. (transitive)
to provide a basis or foundation for; establish
37. (transitive)
to confine (an aircraft, pilot, etc) to the ground
38. (transitive) informal
to confine (a child) to the house as a punishment
39. the usual US word for earth (sense 16)
40. (transitive) nautical
to run (a vessel) aground
41. (transitive)
to cover (a surface) with a preparatory coat of paint
42. (intransitive)
to hit or reach the ground
Word origin
Old English grund; related to Old Norse grunn shallow, grunnr, grund plain, Old High German grunt
ground in British English2
(ɡraʊnd)
verb
1. the past tense and past participle of grind
adjective
2.
having the surface finished, thickness reduced, or an edge sharpened by grinding
3.
reduced to fine particles by grinding
ground in American English1
(graʊnd)
noun
1.
a. Obsolete
the lowest part, base, or bottom of anything
b.
the bottom of a body of water
2.
the surface of the earth, specif. the solid surface
3.
the soil of the earth; earth; land
4.
a.
any particular piece of land; esp., one set aside for a specified purpose
a hunting ground
b. [pl.]
land surrounding or attached to a house or other building; esp., the lawns, garden, etc. of an estate
5.
any particular area of reference, discussion, work, etc.; topic; subject
arguments covering the same ground
6. [often pl.]
basis; foundation
7.
the logical basis of a conclusion, action, etc.; valid reason, motive, or cause
often used in pl.
8.
the background or surface over which other parts are spread or laid, as the mainsurface of a painting
9. [pl.]
the particles that settle to the bottom of a liquid; dregs; sediment
coffee grounds
10. Electricity
a.
a conducting body (as the earth, or an object connected with the earth) whose potentialis taken as zero and to which an electric circuit can be connected
b.
the connection of an electrical conductor with a ground
c.
a device, as a stake, iron pipe, etc., that makes such a connection
adjective
11.
of, on, or near the ground
12.
growing or living in or on the ground
13. US, American Football
designating the part of the offensive game plan using running plays
verb transitive
14.
to set on, or cause to touch, the ground
15.
to cause (a ship, etc.) to run aground
16.
to found on a firm basis; establish
17.
to base (a claim, argument, etc.) on something specified
18.
to instruct (a person) in the elements or first principles of
19.
to provide with a background
20.
a.
to keep (an aircraft or pilot) from flying
b. US, Informal
to punish (a young person, esp. a teenager) by not permitting him or her to leave home to engage in social activity
21. Electricity
to connect (an electrical conductor) to a ground
22. US, American Football
to throw or knock (an opposing player) to the ground
verb intransitive
23.
to strike the bottom or run ashore
said of a ship
24. US, Baseball
a.
to hit a grounder
b.
to be put out on a grounder
usually with out
25. US, American Football
to throw an incomplete pass intentionally, to avoid being sacked
Idioms:
break ground
break new ground
cover ground
cut the ground from under someone
from the ground up
gain ground
get off the ground
give ground
go to ground
hold one's ground
lose ground
on delicate ground
on firm ground
on one's own ground
run into the ground
shift one's ground
suit (right) down to the ground
Word origin
ME grund < OE, ground, bottom, akin to Ger grund, ON grunnr: for IE base see grind
ground in American English2
(graʊnd)
verb transitive, verb intransitive
pt. & pp. of
grind
ground in Mechanical Engineering
(graʊnd)
adjective
(Mechanical engineering: Manufacturing and assembly)
A ground object has had its surface finished, its thickness reduced, or its edge sharpenedby grinding.
After grinding, there may be marks on the ground surface that only become visible after it has been polished.
The accuracy of a ground workpiece depends on the profile of the grinding wheel.
A ground object has had its surface finished, its thickness reduced, or its edge sharpenedby grinding.
grinding
ground in Electrical Engineering1
(graʊnd) or earth
noun
(Electrical engineering: Semiconductor and electronic circuitry)
The ground in an electric plug or piece of electrical equipment is the wire through which electricitypasses into the earth, and makes the equipment safe.
For safety, a ground wire is often connected between the individual electrical appliances in the houseand the main electric switchboard or fusebox.
Regardless of the source of the disturbance, any voltage greater than 1V betweenneutral and ground generally will cause equipment malfunction.
The ground in an electric plug or piece of electrical equipment is the wire through which electricitypasses into the earth, and makes the equipment safe.
Word forms: (present) grounds, (past) grounded, (perfect) grounded, (progressive) grounding
verb
(Electrical engineering: Semiconductor and electronic circuitry)
If you ground an electrical circuit or device, you connect it to ground, to make it safe.
We ground the outer case as an essential part of the safety system.
Grounding a fuse or breaker is an essential part of the safety system.
If you ground an electrical circuit or device, you connect it to ground, to make it safe.
More idioms containing
ground
be on home ground
suit someone down to the ground
stamping ground
run something into the ground
run someone to ground
run someone into the ground
prepare the ground
the moral high ground
lose ground
hit the ground running
go to ground
get something off the ground
get in on the ground floor
gain ground
find common ground
fall on stony ground
cut the ground from under someone
break new ground
break ground
be thin on the ground
be thick on the ground
keep your feet on the ground
get your feet on the ground
keep your ear to the ground
COBUILD Collocations
ground
hallowed ground
lost ground
shaky ground
solid ground
Examples of 'ground' in a sentence
ground
We move on foot to some higher ground and look around.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is not so much about genuinely getting something off the ground now.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Many are finding compensation claims grounded but refuse to give up.
The Sun (2016)
He turned part of the archaeological site into a hunting ground and allowed goats to be kept inside the cave.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In contrast, stocks with large dollar earnings lost ground.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Playing games at just a few city grounds and neglecting cricket heartlands in the shires risks killing off the game in those areas.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He was found not guilty of murder at Guildford crown court on the ground of diminished responsibility.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We've had to be patient though and not rush him back until the ground has been right.
The Sun (2016)
Everton are increasingly optimistic about building a new arena after three previous failed ground moves after support from Liverpool city council.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The fixture list had been arranged to keep matches with potential flashpoints away from the grounduntil December, but the cup draw has changed all that.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Move rugs and curtains upstairs or to higher ground.
The Sun (2014)
The dollar also gained ground against the yen.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Please put me back on the ground.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Would you take the high ground if your organs failed?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They wanted to build something from the ground up.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The ground should be fine for him as we think he wants it faster.
The Sun (2009)
It is to try and find some common ground in a situation overwhelmed with emotion.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Theirs is a marriage grounded in similar beliefs.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
And poor exports are fuelling worries the recovery is on shaky ground.
The Sun (2013)
But both the district and appeal courts found no grounds for these claims.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
These are the areas of common ground to listen for.
Christianity Today (2000)
We tried to run away to higher ground but the wave was much quicker than us.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It has a pool and a small lake in the grounds.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Years of trying to get this project off the ground will finally see it happen.
The Sun (2011)
High oil prices are forcing airlines to ground aircraft.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Adding coffee grounds can lead to blue flowers.
The Sun (2015)
What a good thing the ground crew had loaded it.
Len Deighton Bomber
We were able to hit the ground running.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
They took the high ground around the city in the past week before pushing into the western outskirts.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The bank is expected to challenge the statistical evidence on the ground that the plaintiffs are not comparing like with like.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It was a favourite hunting ground.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It may look familiar but this Accord is new from the ground up.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Word lists with
ground
Art equipment
In other languages
ground
British English: ground /ɡraʊnd/ NOUN
The ground is the surface of the earth or the floor of a room.
We slid down the roof and dropped to the ground.
American English: ground
Arabic: أَرْض
Brazilian Portuguese: chão
Chinese: 地面
Croatian: tlo
Czech: země
Danish: jord
Dutch: grond
European Spanish: terreno
Finnish: maa maaperä
French: sol
German: Boden
Greek: έδαφος
Italian: terreno
Japanese: 地面
Korean: 땅
Norwegian: bakke
Polish: grunt
European Portuguese: chão
Romanian: sol
Russian: земля
Latin American Spanish: terreno
Swedish: mark
Thai: พื้นดิน
Turkish: yer
Ukrainian: земля
Vietnamese: mặt đất
British English: ground /ɡraʊnd/ VERB
If an argument, belief, or opinion is grounded in something, that thing is used to justify it.
Her argument was grounded in fact.
American English: ground
Arabic: يَعْتَمِد عَلى
Brazilian Portuguese: aterrissar
Chinese: 基于
Croatian: temeljiti
Czech: zakládat se na pravdě pod.
Danish: basere på
Dutch: onderbouwen
European Spanish: poner en tierra
Finnish: määrätä lentokieltoon
French: fonder
German: auf Grund setzen
Greek: προσγειώνω
Italian: basare
Japanese: 地面に置く
Korean: (…에) 근거를 두다
Norwegian: sette på bakken
Polish: oprzeć
European Portuguese: baseado
Romanian: întemeiat
Russian: обосновывать
Latin American Spanish: poner en tierra
Swedish: förbjuda att flyga
Thai: มีหลักฐานเพียงพอ
Turkish: öğütmek
Ukrainian: ґрунт
Vietnamese: dựa trên
All related terms of 'ground'
grind
If you grind a substance such as corn , you crush it between two hard surfaces or with a machine until it becomes a fine powder .
blue ground
an intrusive igneous rock generated at great depth in the earth's mantle and consisting largely of olivine and phlogopite . It often contains diamonds
camp ground
an area on which holiday-makers may pitch a tent , etc
gain ground
If something such as an idea or an ideal gains ground , it gradually becomes more widely known or more popular .
give ground
to draw back or retreat
ground ball
→ grounder
ground bass
a short melodic bass line that is repeated over and over again
ground beef
beef that has been ground for making hamburgers and other dishes
ground bug
any member of a family ( Lygaeidae ) of hemipterous plant-eating insects, having generally dark bodies, sometimes marked with red, and lighter , yellowish wings
ground crew
At an airport, the people who look after the planes when they are on the ground are called the ground crew .
ground fir
→ ground pine
ground fog
a low, often dense fog , esp. one through which the sky and clouds above can be seen
ground game
game animals, such as hares or deer , found on the earth's surface: distinguished from game birds
ground ice
sea ice that is in contact with the coast or sea bed and thus not floating freely
ground ivy
a creeping or trailing Eurasian aromatic herbaceous plant, Glechoma (or Nepeta ) hederacea, with scalloped leaves and purplish-blue flowers: family Lamiaceae ( labiates )
ground loop
a sudden uncontrolled turn by an aircraft on the ground, while moving under its own power
ground pine
a hairy plant, Ajuga chamaepitys, of Europe and N Africa, having two-lipped yellow flowers marked with red spots : family Lamiaceae ( labiates ). It smells of pine when crushed
ground pink
a North American plant, Phlox subulata, forming dense mosslike mats : cultivated for its pink , white, or lavender flowers: family Polemoniaceae
ground plan
In British English , a ground plan is a plan of the ground floor of a building. In American English, a ground plan is a plan of any floor of a building.
ground plum
a North American leguminous plant, Astragalus caryocarpus, with purple or white flowers and green thick-walled plumlike edible pods
ground rent
Ground rent is rent that is paid by the owner of a flat or house to the owner of the land on which it is built .
ground rule
The ground rules for something are the basic principles on which future action will be based .
ground run
the distance taken by an aircraft to brake from its landing speed to its taxiing speed or a stop
ground war
the part of a political campaign that is conducted door-to-door by party workers in individual constituencies
ground wave
a radio wave that travels directly between a transmitting and a receiving aerial
ground wire
a wire that grounds an electrical circuit or device
ground zero
a point on the surface of land or water at or directly above or below the centre of a nuclear explosion
high ground
If a person or organization has the high ground in an argument or dispute , that person or organization has an advantage .
home ground
A sports team's home ground is their own playing field , as opposed to that of other teams .
lose ground
to lose some of the power or advantage that you had previously
lost ground
Ground is used in expressions such as gain ground , lose ground , and give ground in order to indicate that someone gets or loses an advantage .
open ground
uncovered or unobstructed ground in a wide open space
above ground
not underground
below ground
If something is below ground or below the ground , it is in the ground.
break ground
to start building something
burial ground
A burial ground is a place where bodies are buried , especially an ancient place.
centre ground
the nominal space in the political spectrum that is neither right or left
common ground
If two people or groups find common ground , they agree about something, especially when they do not agree about other things.
cover ground
to move or traverse a certain distance
ground attack
an attack using ground forces, as opposed to air or naval forces
ground beetle
any beetle of the family Carabidae, often found under logs , stones, etc, having long legs and a dark coloration
ground cherry
any of various American solanaceous plants of the genus Physalis , esp P . pubescens, having round fleshy fruit enclosed in a bladder-like husk
ground cloth
groundsheet
ground colour
a colour on which other colours are superimposed to create a pattern
ground cover
dense low herbaceous plants and shrubs that grow over the surface of the ground, esp, in a forest , preventing soil erosion or, in a garden , stifling weeds
ground effect
the improvement to the aerodynamic qualities of a low-slung motor vehicle resulting from a cushion of air beneath it
ground elder
a widely naturalized Eurasian umbelliferous plant, Aegopodium podagraria, with white flowers and creeping underground stems
ground floor
The ground floor of a building is the floor that is level or almost level with the ground outside.
ground force
a military force that operates on the ground
ground frost
the condition resulting from a temperature reading of 0°C or below on a thermometer in contact with a grass surface
Chinese translation of 'ground'
ground
(ɡraund)
pt, pp
ofgrind
n
(= floor)
the ground地面 (dìmiàn)
⇒ He picked his coat up from the ground.他从地上拾起大衣。 (Tā cóng dìshang shíqǐ dàyī.)
(= earth, soil, land)
the ground土地 (tǔdì)
⇒ The ground was very wet and soft.土地非常潮湿松软。 (Tǔdì fēicháng cháoshī sōngruǎn.)
⇒ a rocky piece of ground一块多岩石的土地 (yī kuài duō yánshí de tǔdì)
(c) (Sport) 场(場) (chǎng)
⇒ Manchester United's football ground曼联队的足球场 (Mànliánduì de zúqiúchǎng)
(c) (US, Elec) 接地装(裝)置 (jiēdì zhuāngzhì)
英 = earth
vt
[plane]使停飞(飛) (shǐ tíngfēi)
[child]限制出门(門) (xiànzhì chūmén)
⇒ His father grounded him for a month.他爸爸整个月都限制他出门。 (Tā bàba zhěnggè yuè dōu xiànzhì tā chūmén.)
(US, Elec) 使接地 (shǐ jiēdì)
英 = earth
adj
[coffee, almonds, spice, pepper]磨碎的 (mósuì de)
(US)[meat]绞(絞)碎的 (jiǎosuì de)
vi
[ship]搁(擱)浅(淺) (gēqiǎn)
⇒ the rocks where the ship had grounded船搁浅处的礁石 (chuán gēqiǎnchù de jiāoshí)
on the ground在地面上 (zài dìmiàn shang)
the facilities on the ground地面设(設)备(備) (dìmiàn shèbèi)
below/above ground地下/上 (dìxià/shang)
common ground共同点(點) (gòngtóngdiǎn)
to gain/lose ground (fig) 越来(來)越看好/渐(漸)失优(優)势(勢) (yuèláiyuè kànhǎo/jiàn shī yōushì)
to get off the ground (fig) 开(開)始进(進)行 (kāishǐ jìnxíng)
to stand or hold one's ground坚(堅)持立场(場) (jiānchí lìchǎng)
to be thin on the ground (Brit) 为(為)数(數)不多 (wéishù bù duō)
to break new ground开(開)辟(闢)新天地 (kāipì xīn tiāndì)
to burn/raze sth to the ground把某物烧(燒)成平地/夷为(為)平地 (bǎ mǒuwù shāochéng píngdì/yíwéipíngdì)
to go to ground躲了起来(來) (duǒle qǐlái)
to find the middle ground找到中间(間)立场(場) (zhǎodào zhōngjiān lìchǎng)
to prepare the ground for sth为(為)某事铺(鋪)平道路 (wéi mǒushì pūpíng dàolù)
to shift or change one's ground改变(變)立场(場) (gǎibiàn lìchǎng)
it suits him down to the ground (Brit, inf) 这(這)完全适(適)合他 (zhè wánquán shìhé tā)
grounds for[optimism, hope, concern] ... 的原因 ( ... de yuányīn) [divorce, appeal, complaint] ... 的理由 ( ... de lǐyóu)
grounds for doing sth做某事的根据(據) (zuò mǒushì de gēnjù)
on (the) grounds of以 ... 为(為)理由 (yǐ ... wéi lǐyóu)
on the grounds that ... 以 ... 为(為)理由 (yǐ ... wéi lǐyóu)
on medical/humanitarian grounds基于(於)健康状(狀)况(況)/人道主义(義) (jīyú jiànkāng zhuàngkuàng/réndào zhǔyì)