ground

Sense 1 noun

the solid part of the earth's surface

the plane turned away from the sea and moved back over land

Sense 2 verb

fix firmly and stably

anchor the lamppost in concrete

Sense 3 noun

a rational motive for a belief or action

the reason that war was declared

Sense 4 verb

confine or restrict to the ground

After the accident, they grounded the plane and the pilot

Sense 5 noun

the loose soft material that makes up a large part of the land surface

they dug into the earth outside the church

Sense 6 verb

place or put on the ground

Sense 7 noun

a relation that provides the foundation for something

they were on a friendly footing

Sense 8 verb

instruct someone in the fundamentals of a subject

Sense 9 noun

a position to be won or defended in battle (or as if in battle)

they gained ground step by step

Sense 10 verb

bring to the ground

the storm grounded the ship

Sense 11 noun

the part of a scene (or picture) that lies behind objects in the foreground

he posed her against a background of rolling hills

Sense 12 verb

hit or reach the ground

Sense 13 noun

material in the top layer of the surface of the earth in which plants can grow (especially with reference to its quality or use)

the land had never been plowed

Sense 14 verb

throw to the ground in order to stop play and avoid being tackled behind the line of scrimmage

Sense 15 noun

a relatively homogeneous percept extending back of the figure on which attention is focused

Sense 16 verb

hit a groundball

he grounded to the second baseman

Sense 17 noun

a connection between an electrical device and a large conducting body, such as the earth (which is taken to be at zero voltage)

Sense 18 verb

hit onto the ground

Sense 19 noun

(art) the surface (as a wall or canvas) prepared to take the paint for a painting

Sense 20 verb

cover with a primer; apply a primer to

Sense 21 noun

the first or preliminary coat of paint or size applied to a surface

Sense 22 verb

connect to a ground

ground the electrical connections for safety reasons

Sense 23 verb

use as a basis for; found on

base a claim on some observation