# ground /ˈɡɹaʊnd/ (US) · /ɡɹˈaʊnd/ (UK) Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ground Updated: 2026-06-19 ## Senses ### 1. the earth's surface noun · CEFR A2 the solid surface of the earth that you walk on. For teachers: the surface of the Earth, distinguished from the air or water. - The children sat on the ground to eat their picnic lunch. - The hikers were forced to sleep on the cold, damp ground after their tent was swept away by the gale. ### 2. soil or earth noun · CEFR B1 the dirt or soil in the earth where plants grow. For teachers: 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. ### 3. reasons or justification noun · CEFR B2 a good reason for saying, doing, or believing something. For teachers: 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. ### 4. an area for a purpose noun · CEFR B1 an area of land used for a specific activity, like sports. For teachers: an area of land designated for a particular purpose or activity. - The school has a large sports ground for football and cricket. - The historic estate includes extensive hunting grounds and a meticulously maintained botanical garden. ### 5. electrical safety noun · CEFR C1 · American English · Technical a wire that connects an electrical circuit to the earth for safety. For teachers: 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. Usage: In British English, this is usually called 'earth'. ### 6. to punish a child verb · CEFR B1 · Informal to punish a child by not letting them go out with friends. For teachers: 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. ### 7. to stop a plane from flying verb · CEFR B2 to prevent an aircraft or a pilot from flying. For teachers: 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. ### 8. to base on facts verb · CEFR C1 · Academic to base an idea or argument on firm facts or reasons. For teachers: 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. ### 9. crushed into powder adjective · CEFR B1 broken into very small pieces or powder. For teachers: 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. ## Examples - The ground is still wet from the rain. - The children sat on the ground to watch the parade pass by. - The structural integrity of the building depends on how well the foundation is anchored into the solid ground beneath the topsoil. --- From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.