Topic: NATURE
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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | grund |
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ground1 S1 W1
1DN
earth
[uncountable]a) the surface of the earth A raised platform stood 2 metres off the ground.
the ground The leaves were slowly fluttering to the ground. He lay on the ground and stared up at the sky. The ground was frozen solid.
The leaves were slowly fluttering to the ground.He lay on the ground and stared up at the sky.The ground was frozen solid.A raised platform stood 2 metres off the ground.b) the soil on and under the surface of the earth : Dig the ground over in the autumn. Plant the seeds 2 cm deep in the ground. The ground was dry, far too dry for growing corn.
Dig the ground over in the autumn.Plant the seeds 2 cm deep in the ground.The ground was dry, far too dry for growing corn.2
area of land
a) [uncountable] an area of land without buildings, fences, woods etc : They were standing on the waste ground (=land in a town that is not being used) behind the car park.
They were standing on the waste ground (=land in a town that is not being used) behind the car park.b) [countable] British English also grounds [plural] especially American English an area of land or sea that is used for a particular purpose : fishing grounds
fishing grounds parade/hunting/burial etc ground These fields served as a hunting ground for the local people. He is buried in sacred ground.
➔ playground (1)These fields served as a hunting ground for the local people.He is buried in sacred ground.c) the land or gardens surrounding a large building : We decided to take a stroll in the hotel grounds.
grounds
[plural]We decided to take a stroll in the hotel grounds.3 a good reason for doing, believing, or saying something
reason
grounds
[ plural] on (the) grounds of something Flying was ruled out on grounds of cost. 'You're under arrest.' 'On what grounds?'
Flying was ruled out on grounds of cost.'You're under arrest.' 'On what grounds?'4 a subject or area of knowledge :
subject
[uncountable] familiar/home ground (=a subject etc that you know something about) In his latest book, McManus returns to more familiar ground.
In his latest book, McManus returns to more familiar ground.5 a general opinion or set of attitudes : Often parents and teenagers find they have little common ground (=they do not share the same attitudes etc).
opinion
[uncountable]Often parents and teenagers find they have little common ground (=they do not share the same attitudes etc). the middle/centre ground (=opinions that are not extreme that most people would agree with) Careful, Laura. You could be treading on dangerous ground (=expressing opinions etc that might offend someone).
Careful, Laura. You could be treading on dangerous ground (=expressing opinions etc that might offend someone).6 the place where a particular sport is played [↪ stadium]: a new football ground It's their first defeat at their home ground (=the ground that belongs to a particular team) all season.
sport
[countable] British Englisha new football groundIt's their first defeat at their home ground (=the ground that belongs to a particular team) all season.7
hold/stand your ground
a) to stay where you are when someone threatens you, in order to show them that you are not afraid : The men threatened him, but he stood his ground and they fled.
The men threatened him, but he stood his ground and they fled.b) to refuse to change your mind about something, even though people are opposing you : Jason vowed to stand his ground, even if it meant losing his job.
Jason vowed to stand his ground, even if it meant losing his job.9
gain ground
a) to become more successful : It was feared that the extreme right would gain ground in the election.
It was feared that the extreme right would gain ground in the election.b) if an idea, belief etc gains ground, more people start to accept it : His theories gradually gained ground among academics.
His theories gradually gained ground among academics.c) to get closer to someone or something that you are competing with
10 to become less successful compared with someone or something you are competing with : The Indian team seem determined to regain the ground they lost in the last game.
lose ground
The Indian team seem determined to regain the ground they lost in the last game.11 a situation in which something develops quickly or successfully : The region, with its widespread poverty, provided fertile ground for revolutionary activitists.
breeding/fertile/proving ground
The region, with its widespread poverty, provided fertile ground for revolutionary activitists. prepare/lay the ground (=to provide the situation or conditions in which something can develop successfully)
breeding/fertile/proving ground for My task was to prepare the ground for the recruitment of support workers.
My task was to prepare the ground for the recruitment of support workers.12 to destroy a city, building etc completely by fire, bombs etc : The city of Tortona was burnt to the ground.
burn/raze something to the ground
The city of Tortona was burnt to the ground.13 to work so hard that you become very tired or ill : Kay's working herself into the ground trying to meet her deadlines.
work/drive/run yourself into the ground
Kay's working herself into the ground trying to meet her deadlines.14 in the place or situation where something important is happening, rather than somewhere else - used especially in news reports : While the politicians talk of peace, the situation on the ground remains tense.
on the ground
While the politicians talk of peace, the situation on the ground remains tense.15 someone's stamping ground is an area where they are known or have a lot of influence :
stamping ground
British English stomping ground American English informal16 a wire that connects a piece of electrical equipment to the ground for safety [= earth British English]
electrical
[singular] American EnglishTPE17 small pieces of solid material that sink to the bottom of a liquid : coffee grounds
grounds
[plural]DFDcoffee grounds18 to make it hard for people to find you : The man has gone to ground since his photograph was published in a national newspaper.
go to ground
British EnglishThe man has gone to ground since his photograph was published in a national newspaper.19 to succeed in finding someone or something after a long search
run somebody/something to ground
British English20 the colour used as the background for a design
background
[countable] technical➔ cut the ground from under somebody's feet
at cut1 (37)➔ have/keep both feet on the ground
at foot1 (18)➔ suit somebody down to the ground
at suit2 (1)➔ be thin on the ground
at thin1 (12)➔ hit the ground running
at hit1 (24)WORD CHOICE:WORD CHOICE: ground, land, earth, soil, floor The ground is the surface that you walk on when you are outdoors • There were a few flakes of snow on the ground. • an area of muddy groundland is an area of ground that is owned or controlled by someone • They were on his land. • land set aside for housing It is also the part of the earth's surface that is not covered in water • animals that live on landearth or soil is the soft substance that covers the ground and that plants grow in • Green shoots peeped through the earth. • fertile soilThe Earth or earth is also the planet that we live on. The floor is the surface that you walk on when you are indoors • There's mud all over the floor!
