ground ground /ˈgraʊnd/

noun

1. () The solid part of the earth's surface  ( dry land , solid ground , terra firma , earth , ground , land )
   the solid part of the earth's surface
    The plane turned away from the sea and moved back over land
   the plane turned away from the sea and moved back over land
    The earth shook for several minutes
   the earth shook for several minutes
    He dropped the logs on the ground
   he dropped the logs on the ground
   
   
2. () A rational motive for a belief or action  ( ground , reason )
   a rational motive for a belief or action
    The reason that war was declared
   the reason that war was declared
    The grounds for their declaration
   the grounds for their declaration
   
3. () The loose soft material that makes up a large part of the land surface  ( ground , earth )
   the loose soft material that makes up a large part of the land surface
    They dug into the earth outside the church
   they dug into the earth outside the church
   
4. () The part of a scene (or picture) that lies behind objects in the foreground  ( ground , background )
   the part of a scene (or picture) that lies behind objects in the foreground
    He posed her against a background of rolling hills
   he posed her against a background of rolling hills
   
5. () A position to be won or defended in battle (or as if in battle)  ( ground )
   a position to be won or defended in battle (or as if in battle)
    They gained ground step by step
   they gained ground step by step
    They fought to regain the lost ground
   they fought to regain the lost ground
   
6. () A relation that provides the foundation for something  ( footing , ground , basis )
   a relation that provides the foundation for something
    They were on a friendly footing
   they were on a friendly footing
    He worked on an interim basis
   he worked on an interim basis
   
7. The first or preliminary coat of paint or size applied to a surface  ( flat coat , ground , primer , primer coat , priming , priming coat , undercoat )
   the first or preliminary coat of paint or size applied to a surface
    I always use a primer before painting
   I always use a primer before painting
   
8. (art) the surface (as a wall or canvas) prepared to take the paint for a painting  ( ground )
   (art) the surface (as a wall or canvas) prepared to take the paint for a painting
   
9. (electricity) a connection between an electrical device and a large conducting body, such as the earth (which is taken to be at zero voltage)  ( earth [British] , ground )
   (electricity) a connection between an electrical device and a large conducting body, such as the earth (which is taken to be at zero voltage)
   
10. A relatively homogeneous percept extending back of the figure on which attention is focused  ( ground )
    a relatively homogeneous percept extending back of the figure on which attention is focused
    
11. Material in the top layer of the surface of the earth in which plants can grow (especially with reference to its quality or use)  ( ground , soil , land )
    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
    the land had never been plowed
     Good agricultural soil
    good agricultural soil
    
    

verb

1. () Fix firmly and stably  ( ground , anchor )
   fix firmly and stably
    Anchor the lamppost in concrete
   anchor the lamppost in concrete
   
2. () Instruct someone in the fundamentals of a subject  ( ground )
   instruct someone in the fundamentals of a subject
   
3. () Place or put on the ground  ( ground )
   place or put on the ground
   
4. () Confine or restrict to the ground  ( ground )
   confine or restrict to the ground
    After the accident, they grounded the plane and the pilot
   After the accident, they grounded the plane and the pilot
   
5. Use as a basis for; found on  ( found , ground , establish , base )
   use as a basis for; found on
    Base a claim on some observation
   base a claim on some observation
   
6. Connect to a ground  ( ground )
   connect to a ground
    Ground the electrical connections for safety reasons
   ground the electrical connections for safety reasons
   
7. Cover with a primer; apply a primer to  ( ground , prime , undercoat )
   cover with a primer; apply a primer to
   
8. Hit onto the ground  ( ground )
   hit onto the ground
   
9. Hit a groundball  ( ground )
   hit a groundball
    He grounded to the second baseman
   he grounded to the second baseman
   
10. (football) throw to the ground in order to stop play and avoid being tackled behind the line of scrimmage  ( ground )
    (football) throw to the ground in order to stop play and avoid being tackled behind the line of scrimmage
    
11. Hit or reach the ground  ( ground , run aground )
    hit or reach the ground
    
12. Bring to the ground  ( ground , run aground , strand )
    bring to the ground
     The storm grounded the ship
    the storm grounded the ship
    

 grind grind /ˈgraɪnd/

noun

1. The act of grinding to a powder or dust  ( grind , mill , pulverisation [British] , pulverization )
   the act of grinding to a powder or dust
   
2. Hard monotonous routine work  ( donkeywork [Informal] , drudgery , grind , plodding )
   hard monotonous routine work
   
3. The grade of particle fineness to which a substance is ground  ( grind )
   the grade of particle fineness to which a substance is ground
    A coarse grind of coffee
   a coarse grind of coffee
   
4. [Informal, N. American] An insignificant student who is ridiculed as being affected or boringly studious  ( dweeb [Informal, N. American] , grind [Informal, N. American] , nerd [Informal] , swot [Informal, British] , wonk [Informal] , nurd [Informal] )
   an insignificant student who is ridiculed as being affected or boringly studious
   

verb

1. () Press or grind with a crushing noise  ( cranch , craunch , crunch , grind )
   press or grind with a crushing noise
   
2. () Make a grating or grinding sound by rubbing together  ( grate , grind )
   make a grating or grinding sound by rubbing together
    Grate one's teeth in anger
   grate one's teeth in anger
   
3. () Reduce to small pieces or particles by pounding or abrading  ( bray [Archaic] , comminute , crunch , grind , mash )
   reduce to small pieces or particles by pounding or abrading
    Grind the spices in a mortar
   grind the spices in a mortar
    Mash the garlic
   mash the garlic
   
4. () [Informal] Dance by rotating the pelvis in an erotically suggestive way, often while in contact with one's partner such that the dancers' legs are interlaced  ( grind [Informal] )
   dance by rotating the pelvis in an erotically suggestive way, often while in contact with one's partner such that the dancers' legs are interlaced
   
5. () [Informal] Work hard  ( dig [Informal, American] , drudge , fag [Informal] , grind [Informal] , labor [American] , labour [Canadian, British] , moil [ N. American] , toil , travail )
   work hard
    She was digging away at her math homework
   She was digging away at her math homework
    Lexicographers drudge all day long
   Lexicographers drudge all day long
   
6. Shape or form by grinding  ( grind )
   shape or form by grinding
    Grind lenses for glasses and cameras
   grind lenses for glasses and cameras
   
7. Created by grinding  ( grind )
   created by grinding
    Grind designs into the glass bowl
   grind designs into the glass bowl