ground

I. 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 grounds 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 grounds

> 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 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 grounded — L. K. Williams

> b. to furnish with a foundation of knowledge ; base <

an understanding…that is grounded 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 <

grounded 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 <

grounded back to the pitcher

> III. past and past participle of grind