Word: Ground

Pronunciation

/ɡraʊnd/

Definitions

• Noun (n): The solid surface of the Earth, not covered by water or built-up areas; land. Example: “The farmer worked on his fields from dawn till dusk, cultivating the rich soil of the ground.”
• Noun (n): The basis or foundation for something; a fundamental principle or starting point. Example: “In physics, Newton’s laws form the ground for our understanding of motion.”
• Noun (n): The reason or cause underlying a situation or argument. Example: “On what ground do you base your claim?”
• Noun (n): In sports, the playing area, such as a football pitch or tennis court. Example: “The players took to the ground after warming up.”
• Verb (v): To place or establish firmly; to set or lay the foundation for something. Example: “We need to ground our theories in empirical evidence.”
• Verb (v): To connect an electrical device to the Earth or to a conducting body serving in its stead, to prevent electric shock. Example: “Always ground your appliances for safety.”
• Verb (v): (Aviation) To prohibit an aircraft or pilot from flying, typically due to safety concerns. Example: “The plane was grounded because of mechanical issues.”
• Adjective (adj): Connected to the Earth or another large conducting body to act as a path to carry electricity safely away. Example: “The building’s electrical system has a grounded circuit.”

Phrases

• “Break new ground”: To begin something that has never been done before.
• “On solid ground”: Being in a stable or secure position.
• “Ground rules”: Basic principles or guidelines agreed upon before an activity begins.
• “Groundhog Day”: A metaphorical reference to a repetitive situation, from the film where the protagonist experiences the same day repeatedly.

Example Sentences

• Noun: “After the storm, fallen leaves carpeted the ground.”
• Verb: “She made sure to ground her arguments in historical facts.”
• Adjective: “The appliance must be plugged into a grounded outlet.”

Synonyms

• Soil
• Land
• Territory
• Foundation
• Base
• Premise (for the foundational sense)
• Anchor (for the verb sense)
• Earth (in the context of electrical grounding)