Definition of ground
(Entry 1 of 4)
1a
: 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 of knowledge or special interest
covered a lot of ground in his lecture
e
: an area to be won or defended in or as if in battle
3a
: the bottom of a body of water
b
grounds plural
(1)
: ground coffee beans after brewing
(2)
: sediment sense 1
4a
: a basis for belief, action, or argument
ground for complaint
—often used in plural sufficient grounds for divorce
b(1)
: a fundamental logical condition
(2)
: a basic metaphysical (see metaphysical sense 2) cause
5a
: 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
6a
: a surrounding area : background
b
: material that serves as a substratum
7
: a football offense utilizing primarily running plays
from the ground up
into the ground
off the ground
on the ground
to ground
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
: beyond what is necessary or tolerable : to exhaustion
labored an issue into the ground — Newsweek
: in or as if in flight : off to a good start
the program never got off the ground
: at the scene of action
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
ground
verb
grounded; grounding; grounds
Definition of ground (Entry 2 of 4)
1a
: to provide a reason or justification for
our fears about technological change may be well grounded— L. K. Williams
b
: to furnish with a foundation of knowledge : base
an understanding … that is grounded in fact— Michael Kimmelman
2a
: to cause to run aground
b
: to bring to or place on the ground
3a
: to restrict to the ground
ground a pilot
b
: to prohibit from taking part in some usual activities
grounded her for a week
4
: to connect electrically with a ground
5
: to throw (a football) intentionally to the ground to avoid being tackled for a loss
ground
adjectiveDefinition of ground (Entry 3 of 4)
: reduced to small pieces or a powder by a grinding process
ground beef ground coffee beans
ground
Definition of ground (Entry 4 of 4)
past tense and past participle of grind
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for ground
The first known use of ground was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century