ground

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. the dirt or soil in the earth where plants grow.

n. the top layer of earth in which plants grow; soil.

“The gardener dug a hole in the hard ground to plant the tree.”

“The heavy rainfall turned the parched ground into a thick mire, making it impossible for the heavy machinery to move.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Plural noun

n. a good reason for saying, doing, or believing something.

n. the logical or legal basis for an action, belief, or argument; often used in the plural.

“The company had legal grounds to fire the employee for stealing.”

“The appeal was dismissed because the lawyers failed to provide sufficient grounds for a retrial based on new evidence.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. an area of land used for a specific activity, like sports.

n. an area of land designated for a particular purpose or activity.

Español:campo de futbol

“The school has a large sports ground for football and cricket.”

“The historic estate includes extensive hunting grounds and a meticulously maintained botanical garden.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Science American English · Technical

n. a wire that connects an electrical circuit to the earth for safety.

n. a conducting connection between an electrical circuit and the earth or some conducting body that serves in place of the earth.

“Make sure the appliance has a proper ground to avoid a shock.”

“The technician identified a faulty ground in the circuit board, which had been causing intermittent power surges.”

B1 · Intermediate Informal

v. to punish a child by not letting them go out with friends.

v. to restrict a child or teenager to the house as a disciplinary measure.

“My parents grounded me for a week because I came home late.”

“After he was caught skipping school, his parents grounded him and confiscated his phone for the duration of the semester.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to prevent an aircraft or a pilot from flying.

v. to prohibit an aircraft or pilot from taking flight, often due to safety or weather concerns.

“The airline grounded all flights because of the thick fog.”

“The aviation authority grounded the entire fleet of jets pending a thorough investigation into the engine failure.”

C1 · Advanced Academic

v. to base an idea or argument on firm facts or reasons.

v. to establish a firm basis or foundation for a theory, argument, or person's education.

“The course will ground you in the basic principles of physics.”

“The researcher grounded her claims in extensive empirical data collected over a five-year longitudinal study.”

B1 · Intermediate Cooking

adj. broken into very small pieces or powder.

adj. reduced to small particles or powder by crushing or milling.

“I prefer the taste of freshly ground coffee in the morning.”

“The recipe calls for a teaspoon of ground cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg to enhance the flavour of the batter.”