Ground | Mean of ground in English Dictionary

/ˈgraʊnd/

• Noun
• the surface of the earth
1. An apple fell to the ground.
2. Mechanical problems kept the plane on the ground.
3. They were lying/sitting on the ground.
4. close to the ground = low to the ground
5. The flight was watched by many observers on the ground.
6. They sent in ground forces/troops. [=soldiers who fight on the ground instead of in the air or at sea]
7. a ground war [=a war fought by soldiers on the ground]
8. ground transportation [=transportation that is over the ground instead of on water or in the air]
• the soil that is on or under the surface of the earth
1. planting seeds in the ground
2. She drove a spike into the ground.
3. damp/frozen ground
4. solid/firm/dry ground
• an area of land
1. They built their house on bare/level/flat ground.
2. We realized that we were on hallowed/sacred ground.
3. They built their house on high ground.

• an area of land or sea that is used for a particular purpose
1. a camping ground
2. fishing/hunting grounds
3. Each fall the birds return to their wintering grounds.
4. (Brit) a football ground [=(US) a soccer field]
5. an ancient burial ground [=a place where people were buried in ancient times]
• the land around a building
1. the capitol grounds
2. He was trespassing on school grounds.
3. We toured the grounds of the estate.
• the bottom of the ocean, a lake, etc.
1. The boat struck ground.
• an area of knowledge or interest
1. We have a lot of ground to go over before the test.
2. We covered much more ground [=we went over more information] than we expected to at the meeting.
3. The book covers familiar ground. [=subjects that have often been discussed before]
• a place or situation in which someone or something is developed or tested
1. The laboratory has become a testing ground for ideas about the origins of the universe.
2. The tournament has come to be regarded as a proving ground for young players.
• a set of beliefs, opinions, or attitudes
1. The two sides are trying to find some common ground [=an area in which they can agree with each other] on these issues.
2. When a politician talks about raising taxes, he's on dangerous ground. [=he is doing or saying something that may cause anger or criticism]
3. The two sides continue to look for a middle ground [=a middle position] between two extremes.
• a reason for doing or thinking something
1. The company has been accused of discriminating on the grounds of race.
2. We have no grounds for believing that the crisis will end soon.
3. Her husband's infidelity was grounds for divorce.
4. Many critics have objected to the proposal on the grounds that [=because] it would be too costly.
5. The law was rejected on the grounds that it was not constitutional. = The law was rejected on constitutional grounds.
• very small pieces of crushed coffee beans
1. coffee grounds
• a wire or metal object that makes an electrical connection with the earth
1. This metal bracket provides the ground.
• the area behind or around a design
1. The wallpaper has red tulips on a white ground. [=background]
• on top of the earth's surface
1. The bird's nest is located high above ground.
• under the earth's surface
1. The seeds should be planted a few inches below ground.
• to dig into the ground at the start of building something
1. Workers broke ground on the new stadium last week.
• to make new discoveries
1. Critics say that the study does not break (any) new ground in the search for a cure for cancer.
• completely or perfectly
1. The job suits her down to the ground. [=suits her perfectly]
• completely or thoroughly
1. The car has been redesigned from the ground up.
• from a point at which nothing has been done
1. They built the resort from the ground up.
• to move faster so that you come closer to someone or something that is in front of you
1. She was trailing in the race, but she was beginning to gain ground (on the leaders).
2. Alternative forms of energy are quickly gaining ground. [=becoming more popular or successful]
3. The company has been gaining ground on [=catching up with] its competitors.
4. The campaign is trying to make up ground by advertising heavily in key states.
• to begin to operate or proceed in a successful way
1. The project never really got off the ground.
• to cause (something) to begin to operate or proceed in successful way
1. We're still trying to get this project off the ground.
• to move backward when you are being attacked
1. The troops were forced to give ground.
2. The controversy has continued, and both sides are still refusing to give ground.
• to not change your position when you are being attacked
1. The troops managed to hold their ground despite a fierce enemy attack.
2. The company has managed to hold its ground in the marketplace.
3. The president has continued to stand his ground despite criticism.
• to the point of being very tired or exhausted
1. She's been working/running/driving herself into the ground.
• to the point of complete failure or ruin
1. He ran that company into the ground. [=he destroyed that company]
2. She drove that old car into the ground. [=she drove it until it would not run anymore]
• to move slower so that you are farther away from someone or something that is in front of you
1. She was beginning to lose ground (to the leaders) in the race.
2. The political party lost ground [=became less popular or successful; did not do well] in the election.
3. The company is losing ground to [=falling behind; not doing as well as] its competitors.
• Verb
• to provide a basis or reason for (something)
1. She discussed the principles on which her philosophy is grounded. [=based, founded]
2. It turned out that our fears were well grounded. [=there was a good reason for our fears]
3. These practices are solidly grounded [=based] in tradition.
4. a theory grounded [=based] in fact
• to cause a ship or boat to hit the ground below the water so that it cannot move
1. They grounded the ship on a sandbar.
2. a grounded ship
3. The ship grounded on a sandbar. [=(more commonly) the ship ran aground on a sandbar]
• to prevent (an aircraft or a pilot) from flying
1. The plane was grounded by mechanical problems.
2. Bad weather grounded his flight.
3. a pilot grounded by health problems
• to stop (a child) from leaving the house to spend time with friends as a form of punishment
1. Her parents threatened to ground her for a week. [=her parents threatened to keep her from going out with her friends for a week]
2. Sorry, I can't go out, I'm grounded.
• to connect (a wire, a device, etc.) electrically to the ground for safety
1. The wire was not properly grounded. [=(Brit) earthed]
• to hit a ground ball
1. He grounded to the shortstop.
2. He grounded out [=made an out by hitting a ground ball] to the shortstop.
• to throw (a football) to the ground in order to avoid being tackled
1. The quarterback was penalized for intentionally grounding the ball.
• to give (someone) basic knowledge about (something)
1. The study helped to ground them in the methods of research.
2. She is well/solidly grounded in mathematics. [=she has a good basic knowledge of mathematics]