I. ˈgrau̇nd noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English grund; akin to Old High German grunt ground
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : the bottom of a body of water
b. plural
(1) : sediment 1
(2) : ground coffee beans after brewing
2.
a. : a basis for belief, action, or argument
ground for complaint
— often used in plural
sufficient ground s for divorce
b.
(1) : a fundamental logical condition
(2) : a basic metaphysical cause
3.
a. : a surrounding area : background
b. : material that serves as a substratum
4.
a. : the surface of the earth
b. : an area used for a particular purpose
the parade ground
fishing ground s
c. 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
5.
a. : soil , earth
b. : a special soil
6.
a. : an object that makes an electrical connection with the earth
b. : a large conducting body (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
- into the ground
- off the ground
- on the ground
- to ground
II. verb
Date: 13th century
transitive verb
1.
a. : to bring to or place on the ground
b. : to cause to run aground
2.
a. : to provide a reason or justification for
our fears about technological change may be well ground ed — L. K. Williams
b. : to furnish with a foundation of knowledge : base
an understanding…that is ground ed in fact — Michael Kimmelman
3. : to connect electrically with a ground
4.
a. : to restrict to the ground
ground a pilot
b. : to prohibit from taking part in some usual activities
ground ed her for a week
5. : to throw (a football) intentionally to the ground to avoid being tackled for a loss
intransitive verb
1. : to have a ground or basis : rely
2. : to run aground
3. : to hit a grounder
ground ed back to the pitcher
III.
past and past participle of grind