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
