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 pluralsufficient 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
verbgrounded; 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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Time Traveler for ground
The first known use of ground was before the 12th century
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