ground

Pluralgrounds

Formsgrounds, grounding, grounded

1. 1
   earth's surfacenouncountable or uncountable

   The solid surface of the Earth that people walk on, not the sky or the water.

   The leaves fell slowly to the ground.

   After the long flight, it felt good to stand on solid ground again.

   UsageOutside, say the ground; inside, say the floor.

   Similarearth, land

   Note
2. 2
   landscapenoununcountable

   The kind of land in an area, such as rocky, flat, or hilly land.

   The hikers crossed rough ground near the top of the mountain.

   Flat ground makes it easier to ride a bike.

   UsageSay rough ground or flat ground.

   Similarterrain, land, country

3. 3
   soilnouncountable or uncountable

   The soil or dirt that plants grow in.

   She dug a small hole in the ground and planted the seeds.

   The ground was too hard to dig after the dry summer.

   UsageSay in the ground.

   Similarsoil, earth, dirt

4. 4
   reasonnouncountable or uncountableplural

   A reason that explains or supports something, like a choice or a belief.

   The team had no ground for blaming the new player.

   She was sent home on the ground that she broke the rules.

   UsageSay grounds for something or on the grounds that.

   Similarreason, cause, justification, basis

5. 5
   place for activitynouncountable or uncountablein compounds

   An area that is good for a certain activity, like fishing or hunting.

   This part of the lake is good fishing ground in summer.

   The empty parking lot was perfect practice ground for new skaters.

   UsageSay fishing ground or hunting ground.

   Similarterritory, area

   Note
6. 6
   foundationnouncountable or uncountable

   The basic work or facts that something is built on.

   Those early talks laid the ground for the peace deal.

   Her plan stands on firm ground because she checked all the facts.

   UsageSay prepare the ground for something.

   Similarfoundation, basis, base

   Note
7. 7
   base onverbtransitive

   To base an idea, plan, or belief on something solid, like facts or reasons.

   Like building a house on solid rock instead of sand.

   Good teachers ground their lessons in real-life examples.

   Her confidence is grounded in years of practice.

   UsageSay grounded in facts.

   Similarbase, root, found, anchor

   Note
8. 8
   advantagenounfigurativelycountable or uncountable

   The position or advantage you win or lose in a fight, game, or argument.

   Our team lost ground in the second half of the game.

   The new phone helped the company gain ground on its rivals.

   UsageSay gain ground or lose ground.

9. 9
   powderedadjective

   Crushed or broken into very small pieces or powder.

   Stir a pinch of ground ginger into the warm cider.

   The cook rubbed ground cumin into the meat before roasting.

   UsageSay freshly ground pepper.

   Similarmilled

   Oppositewhole

   Note
10. 10
    grind (past)verb

    Simple past and past participle of grind. Use this form when the crushing or rubbing already happened.

    She ground fresh pepper over the salad.

    The old mill ground wheat into flour for the whole village.

    UsageSay I ground the coffee (not incorrect: grinded).

    Note
11. 11
    stop flyingverbtransitive

    To stop a plane or pilot from flying.

    Heavy fog can ground every flight at the airport.

    The airline grounded the plane until mechanics fixed the engine.

    UsageSay the plane was grounded.

12. 12
    electric earthnouncountable or uncountable

    A safe path that lets extra electricity flow into the earth.

    Like a drain that gives extra electricity a safe place to go.

    The third pin on the plug connects the lamp to ground.

    Without a connection to ground, a broken wire could shock you.

    UsageSay wired to ground. In Britain, people say earth.

    Similarearth

    Note
13. 13
    soccer stadiumnounUKcountable

    A field or stadium where a sports team, such as a soccer or cricket club, plays its matches.

    Our team's ground is on the edge of town.

    Thousands of fans walked to the ground before the big match.

    Similarstadium, venue, field

    Note
14. 14
    calm (mind)verbtransitive

    To help someone feel calm, steady, and connected to the present.

    Like dropping an anchor so a boat stops drifting.

    Taking slow breaths helps ground me when I feel nervous.

    Her morning walk grounds her before a busy day.

    UsageSay it grounds me.

    Similarcalm, steady, settle, center

15. 15
    backgroundnouncountable or uncountable

    The background or setting behind the main thing you are looking at.

    On stage, the dancers in white stood out against a plain dark ground.

    The white birds were easy to see against a ground of dark pine trees.

    UsageSay against a dark ground.

    Similarbackground, backdrop, context, setting

16. 16
    baseball hitverbintransitive

    In baseball, to hit the ball so that it rolls or bounces along the ground.

    Try not to ground the ball right to the shortstop.

    She grounded the ball to second base and ran hard to first.

    UsageSay ground out to second.

    Note
17. 17
    coffee bitsnoun

    The small bits of something, like coffee, that are left at the bottom of a drink.

    Don't drink the last bit of your coffee, because it is full of grounds.

    She put the old coffee grounds on her garden.

    Similardregs, sediment

    Note

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