Definition of ground
1a : the bottom of a body of waterb grounds plural (1) : sediment 1 (2) : ground coffee beans after brewing
2a : a basis for belief, action, or argument ground for complaint —often used in plural sufficient grounds for divorceb (1) : a fundamental logical condition (2) : a basic metaphysical (see metaphysical 2) cause
3a : a surrounding area : backgroundb : material that serves as a substratum
4a : the surface of a planet (such as the earth or Mars)b : an area used for a particular purpose the parade ground fishing groundsc grounds plural : the area around and belonging to a house or other buildingd : an area to be won or defended in or as if in battlee : an area of knowledge or special interest covered a lot of ground in his lecture
6a : an object that makes an electrical connection with the earthb : a large conducting body (such as the earth) used as a common return for an electric circuit and as an arbitrary zero of potentialc : electric connection with a ground
7 : a football offense utilizing primarily running plays
from the ground up
1 : entirely new or afresh The car has been redesigned from the ground up.
into the ground
off the ground
on the ground
to ground
From the M-W Editors
Examples of ground in a Sentence
An apple fell to the ground.
Mechanical problems kept the plane on the ground.
They were lying on the ground.
The flight was watched by many observers on the ground.
planting seeds in the ground
She drove a spike into the ground.
They built their house on bare ground.
We realized that we were on hallowed ground.
They built their house on high ground.
Each fall the birds return to their wintering grounds.
Origin and Etymology of ground
Middle English, from Old English grund; akin to Old High German grunt ground
ground
Definition of ground
transitive verb
1a : to bring to or place on the groundb : to cause to run aground
2a : to provide a reason or justification for our fears about technological change may be well grounded — L. K. Williamsb : to furnish with a foundation of knowledge : base an understanding … that is grounded in fact — Michael Kimmelman
3 : to connect electrically with a ground
4a : to restrict to the ground ground a pilotb : to prohibit from taking part in some usual activities grounded her for a week
5 : to throw (a football) intentionally to the ground to avoid being tackled for a loss
intransitive verb
1 : to have a ground or basis : rely
2 : to run aground The ship grounded on a mud bank.
3 : to hit a grounder grounded back to the pitcher
Examples of ground in a Sentence
They grounded the ship on a sandbar.
The plane was grounded by mechanical problems.
Bad weather grounded his flight.
a pilot grounded by health problems
Origin and Etymology of ground
see 1ground
GROUND Defined for English Language Learners
ground
playDefinition of ground for English Language Learners
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the ground : the surface of the earth
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: the soil that is on or under the surface of the earth
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: an area of land
ground
Definition of ground for English Language Learners
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: to provide a basis or reason for (something)
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: to cause a ship or boat to hit the ground below the water so that it cannot move
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: to prevent (an aircraft or a pilot) from flying
GROUND Defined for Kids
Definition of ground for Students
1 : the surface of the earth Leaves fell to the ground.
2 : 2soil 1, earth The beans themselves popped out of the ground. — Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House on the Prairie
3 : the bottom of a body of water The boat struck ground.
4 : an area of land sacred ground
5 : an area used for some purpose a hunting ground
6 grounds plural : the land around and belonging to a building the school grounds
7 : background 1
8 : a reason for a belief, action, or argument What is the ground for your complaint?
Definition of ground for Students
grounded
;grounding
1 : to provide a reason for The practices are grounded in tradition.
2 : to instruct in basic knowledge or understanding The students are well grounded in math.
3 : to run or cause to run aground ground a ship
4 : to connect electrically with the ground
5 : to prevent (a plane or pilot) from flying
6 : to prohibit from taking part in certain activities as punishment My parents grounded me for a week.
Medical Dictionary
Law Dictionary
ground
Legal Definition of ground
1 : the foundation or basis on which knowledge, belief, or conviction rests : a premise, reason, or collection of data upon which something (as a legal action or argument) relies for validity sued the city on the ground that the city…had wrongfully released…records — City of Lawton v. Moore, 868 P.2d 690 (1993) listed adultery and alcoholism as the grounds for divorce
2 : a piece or parcel of land the design being to create high ground for use during overflow periods — Bright v. Perkins, 239 S.W.2d 281 (1951) a sudden disruption of a piece of ground from one man's land — Porter v. Arkansas Western Gas Co., 482 S.W.2d 598 (1972)
groundless
adjectivegroundlessly
adverbgroundlessness
nounground
Legal Definition of ground
: to furnish a ground for : set on a basis that court grounded the disclosure requirement in negligence law — Scott v. Bradford, 606 P.2d 554 (1979) an argument grounded on falsehoods
Learn More about ground
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See words that rhyme with ground Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for ground Spanish Central: Translation of ground Nglish: Translation of ground for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of ground for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ground
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