ground
What you stand
The ground is the most natural place for us to stand—the surface of the Earth—and from that core meaning, most others arise.
Senses of ground often have to do with support and basis: the DA found there were no grounds for prosecution.
A preceding noun or adjective indicates a particular place: breeding ground, test ground.
When you ground something, you provide a foundation or basis for it: the book is solidly grounded in primary research.
Ground also serves as the past tense and past participle of the verb grind, and is frequent as an adjective: ground pepper.
Ground matter for planting
- dirtLoose dry earth
- clayMoldable earth for ceramics
- loamFertile soil mixture
- topsoilNutrient-rich surface earth
mud · humus · silt · peat · subsoil · compost · sediment · terrain
Foundation for logical argument
- argumentReasoned case or dispute
- rationaleStated basis for action
- reasoningDrawing logical conclusions
- justificationReason proving rightness
foundation · assumption · position · standing · common · middle · moral · high
Land under jurisdiction
- domainArea of control
- turfGrass-covered earth surface
- areaExtent of surface
- zoneBounded area designation
land · homeland · hunting · breeding · feeding · stomping · home · contested
Supporting bottom structure
- bedrockSolid stone underground
- footingSecure ground position
- underpinningFoundational support beneath
- anchorSecures ships to seabed
support · substructure · piling · reinforcement · stability · solid · firm · shaky
Narrow-leaved ground cover
- pavementHard road covering
- asphaltPetroleum-based paving material
- concreteSolid building mixture
- gravelLoose small rock fragments
sand · tarmac · pathway · sidewalk · footpath · pebbles · turf · flooring
Thin metallic conductor
- circuitClosed electrical pathway
- earthingElectrical safety connection
- conductorOne who directs musicians
- neutralNot favoring any side
fault · safety · shock · rod · strap · bonding · outlet · three-prong
soil
Ground matter for planting
topsoil · mud · humus · silt · peat · subsoil · compost · sediment · terrain · turf
premise
Foundation for logical argument
- argumentReasoned case or dispute
- rationaleStated basis for action
- reasoningDrawing logical conclusions
justification · foundation · assumption · position · standing · common · middle · moral · high · logical
territory
Land under jurisdiction
zone · land · homeland · hunting · breeding · feeding · stomping · home · contested · neutral
base
Supporting bottom structure
- bedrockSolid stone underground
- footingSecure ground position
- underpinningFoundational support beneath
anchor · support · substructure · piling · reinforcement · stability · solid · firm · shaky · unstable
grass
Narrow-leaved ground cover
gravel · sand · tarmac · pathway · sidewalk · footpath · pebbles · turf · flooring · terrain
wire
Thin metallic conductor
- circuitClosed electrical pathway
- earthingElectrical safety connection
- conductorOne who directs musicians
neutral · fault · safety · shock · rod · strap · bonding · outlet · three-prong · lightning
beans
Edible pod seeds
grinder · filter · drip · percolator · coarse · fine · medium · freshly · aroma · caffeine
beef
Bovine meat for eating
lamb · chuck · sirloin · lean · patty · mince · hamburger · meatball · taco · bolognese
groundsky
Visible overhead expanse
air · heavens · atmosphere · clouds · space
groundfigure
Outline or numeral
foreground · focus · subject · focal point · object
- ground beefChopped cattle flesh
- ground floorLowest building level
- high groundElevated terrain offering advantage
- solid groundStable surface beneath
- common groundPoints of agreement
- off the groundElevated from surface
background, underground, grounds, playground, grounded, groundwork, grounding, groundless, ground bass