Collins English-English Dictionary

ground [graυnd]

1. 1. n a terminal to which this connection is made earth

2. 2. n the land surface

3. 3. n earth or soil

   he dug into the ground outside his house

4. 4. n [plural] the land around a dwelling house or other building

5. 5. n [sometimes plural] an area of land given over to a purpose

   football ground

   burial grounds

6. 6. n land having a particular characteristic

   level ground

   high ground

7. 7. n matter for consideration or debate; field of research or inquiry

   the lecture was familiar ground to him

   the report covered a lot of ground

8. 8. n a position or viewpoint, as in an argument or controversy (esp in the phrases give ground, hold, stand, or shift one's ground)

9. 9. n position or advantage, as in a subject or competition (esp in the phrases gain ground, lose ground, etc)

10. 10. n [often plural] reason; justification

    grounds for complaint

11. 11. n [arts] the prepared surface applied to the support of a painting, such as a wall, canvas, etc, to prevent it reacting with or absorbing the paint

12. 12. n the support of a painting

13. 13. n the background of a painting or main surface against which the other parts of a work of art appear superimposed

14. 14. n the first coat of paint applied to a surface

15. 15. n (as modifier)

    ground colour

16. 16. n the bottom of a river or the sea

17. 17. n [plural] sediment or dregs, esp from coffee

18. 18. n [chiefly Brit] the floor of a room

19. 19. n [cricket] the area from the popping crease back past the stumps, in which a batsman may legally stand

20. 20. n ground staff

21. 21. n See ground bass

22. 22. n a mesh or network supporting the main pattern of a piece of lace

23. 23. n [electrical] [US and Canadian] a connection between an electrical circuit or device and the earth, which is at zero potential

24. 24. n [modifier] situated on, living on, or used on the ground

    ground frost

    ground forces

25. 25. n [modifier] concerned with or operating on the ground, esp as distinct from in the air

    ground crew

    ground hostess

26. 26. n [modifier] (used in names of plants) low-growing and often trailing or spreading

27. 27. vt. [tr] to put or place on the ground

28. 28. vt. [tr] to instruct in fundamentals

29. 29. vt. [tr] to provide a basis or foundation for; establish

30. 30. vt. [tr] to confine (an aircraft, pilot, etc) to the ground

31. 31. vt. [tr] [Spoken] to confine (a child) to the house as a punishment

32. 32. vt. the usual US word for earth

33. 33. vt. [tr] [nautical] to run (a vessel) aground

34. 34. vt. [tr] to cover (a surface) with a preparatory coat of paint

35. 35. vi. [intr] to hit or reach the ground

36. 36. vi. [Etymology] Old English grund; related to Old Norse grunn shallow, grunnr, grund plain, Old High German grunt