Word family noun ground underground grounding grounds adjective goundless underground ≠ overground grounded verb ground adverb underground
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishgroundground1 /ɡraʊnd/ ●●● S1 W1 noun 1 DNearthLAND/GROUND [uncountable] a) the surface of the Earththe ground The leaves were slowly fluttering to the ground. He lay on the ground and stared up at the sky. The ground was frozen solid.above/below/under ground At night, badgers feed above ground. These youngsters work 70 metres below ground level. A raised platform stood two metres off the ground. The air raids were followed by military action on the ground (=on land). ground troops (=soldiers who fight on land) b) the soil on and under the surface of the Earth Dig the ground over in the autumn. Plant the seeds 2 cm deep in the ground. The ground was dry, far too dry for growing corn.2 LAND/GROUNDarea of land a) [uncountable] an area of land without buildings, fences, woods etc The landscape is a mixture of open ground and woodland. They were standing on the waste ground (=land in a town that is not being used) behind the car park. b) [countable] (also grounds [plural]) an area of land or sea that is used for a particular purpose fishing groundsparade/hunting/burial etc ground These fields served as a hunting ground for the local people. The rivers are used as dumping grounds for industrial waste. He is buried in sacred ground. → playground(1) c) grounds [plural] the land or gardens surrounding a large building We decided to take a stroll in the hotel grounds.3 → grounds4 subject [uncountable]KNOW something a subject or area of knowledge At meetings, we just keep going over the same ground (=talking about the same things). His latest movie looks set to break new ground (=introduce new and exciting ideas).familiar/home ground (=a subject etc that you know something about) In his latest book, McManus returns to more familiar ground.5 opinion [uncountable] a general opinion or set of attitudes Often parents and teenagers find they have little common ground (=they do not share the same attitudes etc).the middle/centre ground (=opinions that are not extreme that most people would agree with) Both parties are battling to occupy the centre ground. Careful, Laura. You could be treading on dangerous ground (=expressing opinions etc that might offend someone). Each side was unwilling to give ground (=change their opinion).6 sport [countable] British English the place where a particular sport is played → stadium a new football ground It’s their first defeat at their home ground (=the ground that belongs to a particular team) all season. 7 → hold/stand your ground8 → get off the ground9 → gain ground10 → lose ground11 → breeding/fertile/proving ground12 → burn/raze something to the ground13 → work/drive/run yourself into the ground14 → on the ground15 → stamping ground16 electrical [singular] American EnglishTPE a wire that connects a piece of electrical equipment to the ground for safety SYN earth British English17 → grounds18 → go to ground19 → run somebody/something to ground20 background [countable] technical the colour used as the background for a design → cut the ground from under somebody’s feet at cut1(37), → have/keep both feet on the ground at foot1(18), → suit somebody down to the ground at suit2(1), → be thin on the ground at thin1(12), → hit the ground running at hit1(24)THESAURUSthe ground the surface of the Earth, or the soil on its surfaceHe collapsed and fell to the ground.The ground was wet and muddy.the ocean/forest/cave etc floor the ground at the bottom of the ocean, a forest, a cave etcMany wonderful creatures live on the ocean floor.land used when talking about an area of ground that is owned by someone, or is used for an activity. Also used when talking about the part of the Earth’s surface that is not covered with waterHis family owns a lot of land.agricultural landShe got off the ferry, happy to be back on dry land.terrain a type of land – used when talking about how easy an area of land is to cross, and whether it is rocky, flat etcThe Land Rover is built to go over rough terrain.The terrain gets flatter when you go further south. earth/soil the substance that plants grow inThe vegetables were still covered in black soil.mud wet earthYour shoes are covered in mud. Examples from the Corpus
ground• Agnes and Weston are alike concerned that the marriage has not been made on the best grounds.• This time, however, Daley began giving ground, making concessions.• Stooping, shamed, he caressed the hallowed ground.• In the middle of the forest was a bare patch of marshy ground.• However, there are other grounds for expecting a reduction in peeking rate with increasing flock size.• The cold air is made even more apparent by the swift footwork when the entire cast jump lightly upwards away from the ground.• He kicked Cook as he lay on the ground.• A libation of orange juice poured out on the ground to the memory of Uncle Max, that's all.• He tumbled to the ground, writhed around on the dirt and covered himself with dust.• The ground sloped down from where we stood to the lake shore.• The ground was covered with snow.ground troops• The mock load could be ammunition or supplies for ground troops ... or emergency aid for refugees.• The air force created airborne units versed in machine-gun strafing and rocket-launching operations in support of ground troops.• Send ground troops to enforce - not just oversee - a peace?• Fire support missions were dangerous for the crews and, if badly done, dangerous for the ground troops, as well.• The scouts or the ground troops would find the enemy or be in contact.• They also wanted to show their troops that they were part of the battle and supported the ground troops with our firepower.familiar/home ground• It is a liberal city, home ground to Kim Dae Jung, a longtime leader of opponents of authoritarian rule.• Moral: Stay out of the war unless it is on home grounds.• The outside world is, for the social actor, the opposite of his own home ground.• Until his polar opposite steps lightly down on to his moon-paved home ground, the sleek beast-headed man sits at peace, inviolable.• She has picked home ground and imposed the tutorial format on him.• The more there are of the stay-at-homes, the less warm the welcome for foreign rivals on the home ground.• Rabbits are not territorial creatures to the extent of evicting other rabbits moving into their home ground from further afield.• To me this was familiar ground. give ground• This time, however, Daley began giving ground, making concessions.• Those old animosities within the union leadership, as well as the rank and file, give ground grudgingly.• Some of the utterances of ecumenical s gave ground for this suspicion.• She gave ground grudgingly, and we wound up agreeing to a three-way split.• Neither side gave ground in Maine's budget battle.• The New Yorkers began to give ground...• This is a proper negotiation, in which both sides will have to give ground if we are to achieve a solution.• Does he withdraw his front foot, indicating his preference to give ground?• Each side was therefore unwilling to give ground and ready to support or go to the aid of their colleagues.home ground• It is a liberal city, home ground to Kim Dae Jung, a longtime leader of opponents of authoritarian rule.• Neighbors has been noted and debated on home ground.• Moral: Stay out of the war unless it is on home grounds.• I wouldn't dream of meeting my ex-husband again unless I was on home ground.• The outside world is, for the social actor, the opposite of his own home ground.• Until his polar opposite steps lightly down on to his moon-paved home ground, the sleek beast-headed man sits at peace, inviolable.• The more there are of the stay-at-homes, the less warm the welcome for foreign rivals on the home ground.• The problems for North continued on Sunday when they lost by runs to Downpatrick at their home ground.• Rabbits are not territorial creatures to the extent of evicting other rabbits moving into their home ground from further afield.groundground2 ●○○ verb 1 aircraft [transitive]TTAPREVENT to stop an aircraft or pilot from flying All planes are grounded until the fog clears.Grammar Ground is usually passive in this meaning.2 boat [intransitive, transitive]TTWSTOP MOVING if you ground a boat or if it grounds, it hits the bottom of the sea so that it cannot move Both boats grounded on a mud bank.3 → be grounded in/on something4 child [transitive] informalFORBID to stop a child going out with their friends as a punishment for behaving badly I got home at 2 am and Dad grounded me on the spot.5 electricity [transitive] American EnglishTPE to make a piece of electrical equipment safe by connecting it to the ground with a wire SYN earth British English → well-grounded → ground somebody in something→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
ground• The seeds are often ground and the resulting powder is a basic ingredient of curry spice mix.• You'll be grounded for a week if I catch you smoking again.• I can't go to the movie with you -- I'm grounded for the next two weeks.• Mr Finkelstein grounded his kids after they were caught fighting at school.• In his day, he said, students were grounded in spelling and had learned poetry and the Bible by heart.• I ground my teeth through the second shutdown.• Ground the black cable to the engine block, and then connect the red cable to the batteries.• Manny Ramirez, who had homered in the opening inning, grounded wide of third.groundground3 adjective [only before noun] DFground coffee or nuts have been broken up into powder or very small pieces, using a special machine → grindExamples from the Corpus
ground• ground almonds• Don't overlook ground arrangements: Airports such as Washington National, a 50p subway ride from downtown, are rare.• freshly ground black coffee• My feet find only forest vegetation, ground creepers.• Two other crew were to be carried, Mr. Gillroy as wireless operator and Mr. Davies as ground engineer.• They need the cash to pay off debt and also ground improvements like seating the kop next summer.• In urban areas, water is removed by means of continuous pipes or drains below ground level.• They have two sources of origin, above and below ground level.• Season generously with freshly ground pepper and add salt to taste.• Squeeze over some lemon juice and add freshly ground pepper.groundground4 x-refthe past tense and past participle of grind1From Longman Business Dictionarygroundground1 /graʊnd/ noun [countable usually plural]1a reason, often a legal or official one, for doing or believing somethingground forThere are grounds for optimism that the slump in the housing market may end.Are there grounds for dismissing him?The factory was closed on health and safety grounds.2FINANCE gain ground to get an advantage or to rise in priceThe dollar gained ground against sterling.3FINANCE lose ground to lose an advantage or to fall in pricePrices were lower across the board, with nearly all blue-chip stocks losing ground.4get off the ground if a plan, business idea etc gets off the ground, it gets started or it starts to be successfulThis fund is intended to help new projects get off the ground.5break new ground to do something completely new that no one has ever done before or discover something new about a subjectOur scientists are breaking new ground in AIDS research.groundground2 verb be grounded in something to be based on a particular idea, principle etcHis fiscal strategy is firmly grounded in Keynesian economics.→ See Verb tableOrigin ground1 Old English grund 