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ground:


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For the verb: "to grind"
Simple Past: ground
Past Participle: ground
Multiple Entries:
  ground    grind  

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
ground1
noun
  • 1 the solid surface of the earth.

    ■ land of a specified kind: marshy ground.

    ■ an area of land or sea with a specified use: fishing grounds.

    ■ (grounds) an area of enclosed land surrounding a large building.

    Brit. the floor of a room.

  • 2 (grounds) factors forming a basis for action or the justification for a belief.
  • 3 a prepared surface to which paint or other decoration is applied.

    ■ a substance used to prepare a surface for painting.

    ■ a piece of wood fixed to a wall as a base for boards, plaster, or joinery.

  • 4 (grounds) solid particles, especially of coffee, which form a residue.
  • 5 N. Amer. electrical connection to the earth.
verb
  • 1 prohibit or prevent (a pilot or aircraft) from flying.

    informal (of a parent) refuse to allow (a child) to go out socially, as a punishment.

  • 2 run (a ship) aground.
  • 3 (usu. be grounded in) give a firm theoretical or practical basis to.

    ■ (as adj. grounded) well balanced and sensible.

  • 4 place on the ground or touch the ground with.
  • 5 N. Amer. connect (an electrical device) with the ground.
– phrases
be thick (or thin) on the ground exist in large (or small) numbers or amounts.
break new ground be innovative.
gain ground
  • 1 become more popular.
  • 2 (usu. gain ground on) get closer to someone being pursued.
get off the ground start happening or functioning successfully.
give (or lose) ground retreat or lose one's advantage.
go to ground (of a fox or other animal) enter its earth or burrow.

■ (of a person) hide or become inaccessible.

hold (or stand) one's ground not retreat or lose one's advantage.
on the ground in a place where real, practical work is done.
on one's own ground in one's own territory or area of knowledge.
work (or run) oneself into the ground exhaust oneself by working or running very hard.
– origin OE grund, of Gmc origin.



Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
ground2
past and past participle of grind.



Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
grind/ɡrʌɪnd/
verb (past and past part. ground)
  • 1 reduce to small particles or powder by crushing.
  • 2 sharpen, smooth, or produce by crushing or friction.

    ■ operate (a mill or machine) by turning the handle.

  • 3 rub together gratingly.

    ■ press or rub (something) into a surface.

  • 4 move noisily and laboriously.

    ■ (grind something out) produce something laboriously.

    ■ (often grind away) work or study hard.

  • 5 (grind someone down) wear someone down with harsh treatment.

    ■ (as adj. grinding) oppressive and seemingly endless: grinding poverty.

  • 6 informal (of a dancer) rotate the hips erotically.
noun
  • 1 an act or process of grinding.
  • 2 hard dull work: the daily grind.

    US informal an excessively hard-working student.

– phrases
grind to a halt (or come to a grinding halt) slow down gradually and then stop completely.
– derivatives
grinder noun,
grindingly adverb.
– origin OE grindan, prob. of Gmc origin.



'ground' also found in these Oxford entries:
Forum discussions with the word(s) "ground" in the title:

Look up "ground" at Merriam-Webster
Look up "ground" at dictionary.com

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