Definition of ground
1 a
:the bottom of a body of water
b
grounds plural
(1)
:sediment 1
(2)
:ground coffee beans after brewing
2 a
:a basis for belief, action, or argument
- ground for complaint
- sufficient grounds for divorce
b (1)
:a fundamental logical condition
(2)
:a basic metaphysical (see metaphysical 2) cause
3 a
:a surrounding area :background
b
:material that serves as a substratum
4 a
:the surface of a planet (such as the earth or Mars)
b
:an area used for a particular purpose
- the parade ground
- fishing grounds
c
grounds plural
:the area around and belonging to a house or other building
d
:an area to be won or defended in or as if in battle
e
:an area of knowledge or special interest
- covered a lot of ground in his lecture
6 a
:an object that makes an electrical connection with the earth
b
:a large conducting body (such as the earth) used as a common return for an electric circuit and as an arbitrary zero of potential
c
: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.
2
:from the very beginning :thoroughly
- built the resort from the ground up
—
into the ground
:beyond what is necessary or tolerable :to exhaustion
- labored an issue into the ground
- —Newsweek
—
off the ground
:in or as if in flight :off to a good start
- the program never got off the ground
—
on the ground
:at the scene of action
—
to ground
1
:into a burrow
- the fox went to ground
2
:into hiding
- might need to make a run for it and go to ground someplace
- —Edward Hoagland
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