Earth vs. Ground

Earthproper noun

Our planet, third out from the Sun; see main entry Earth.

‘The astronauts saw the earth from the porthole.’;

Groundnoun

(uncountable) The surface of the Earth, as opposed to the sky or water or underground.

Earthnoun

(uncountable) Soil.

‘This is good earth for growing potatoes.’;

Groundnoun

(uncountable) Terrain.

Earthnoun

(uncountable) Any general rock-based material.

‘She sighed when the plane's wheels finally touched earth.’;

Groundnoun

(uncountable) Soil, earth.

‘The worm crawls through the ground.’; ‘The fox escaped from the hounds by going to ground.’;

Earthnoun

The ground, land (as opposed to the sky or sea).

‘Birds are of the sky, not of the earth.’;

Groundnoun

(countable) The bottom of a body of water.

Earthnoun

(British) A connection electrically to the earth (US ground); on equipment: a terminal connected in that manner.

Groundnoun

Basis, foundation, groundwork, legwork.

Earthnoun

A fox's home or lair.

Groundnoun

, (epistemic) justification, cause.

‘You will need to show good grounds for your action.’; ‘He could not come on grounds of health, or on health grounds.’;

Earthnoun

The world of our current life (as opposed to heaven or an afterlife).

Groundnoun

Background, context, framework, surroundings.

Earthnoun

The aforementioned soil- or rock-based material, considered one of the four or five classical elements.

Groundnoun

(historical) The area on which a battle is fought, particularly as referring to the area occupied by one side or the other. Often, according to the eventualities, "to give ground" or "to gain ground".

Earthverb

To connect electrically to the earth.

‘That noise is because the amplifier is not properly earthed.’;

Groundnoun

(metaphorical) Hence, by extension, advantage given or gained in any contest; e.g. in football, chess, debate or academic discourse.

Earthverb

(transitive) To bury.

Groundnoun

plain surface upon which the figures of an artistic composition are set.

‘crimson flowers on a white ground’;

Earthverb

(transitive) To hide, or cause to hide, in the earth; to chase into a burrow or den.

Groundnoun

In sculpture, a flat surface upon which figures are raised in relief.

Earthverb

(intransitive) To burrow.

Groundnoun

In point lace, the net of small meshes upon which the embroidered pattern is applied.

‘Brussels ground’;

Earthnoun

The globe or planet which we inhabit; the world, in distinction from the sun, moon, or stars. Also, this world as the dwelling place of mortals, in distinction from the dwelling place of spirits.

‘That law preserves the earth a sphereAnd guides the planets in their course.’; ‘In heaven, or earth, or under earth, in hell.’;

Groundnoun

In etching, a gummy substance spread over the surface of a metal to be etched, to prevent the acid from eating except where an opening is made by the needle.

Earthnoun

The solid materials which make up the globe, in distinction from the air or water; the dry land.

‘God called the dry land earth.’; ‘He is pure air and fire, and the dull elements of earth and water never appear in him.’;

Groundnoun

One of the pieces of wood, flush with the plastering, to which mouldings etc. are attached.

‘Grounds are usually put up first and the plastering floated flush with them.’;

Earthnoun

The softer inorganic matter composing part of the surface of the globe, in distinction from the firm rock; soil of all kinds, including gravel, clay, loam, and the like; sometimes, soil favorable to the growth of plants; the visible surface of the globe; the ground; as, loose earth; rich earth.

‘Give him a little earth for charity.’;

Groundnoun

(countable) A soccer stadium.

‘Manchester United's ground is known as Old Trafford.’;

Earthnoun

A part of this globe; a region; a country; land.

‘Would I had never trod this English earth.’;

Groundnoun

An electrical conductor connected to the ground.

Earthnoun

Worldly things, as opposed to spiritual things; the pursuits, interests, and allurements of this life.

‘Our weary souls by earth beguiled.’;

Groundnoun

A level of electrical potential used as a zero reference.

Earthnoun

The people on the globe.

‘The whole earth was of one language.’;

Groundnoun

The area of grass on which a match is played (a cricket field); the entire arena in which it is played; the part of the field behind a batsman's popping crease where he can not be run out (hence to make one's ground).

Earthnoun

Any earthy-looking metallic oxide, as alumina, glucina, zirconia, yttria, and thoria.

Groundnoun

(music) A composition in which the bass, consisting of a few bars of independent notes, is continually repeated to a varying melody.

Earthnoun

A hole in the ground, where an animal hides himself; as, the earth of a fox.

‘They [ferrets] course the poor conies out of their earths.’;

Groundnoun

(music) The tune on which descants are raised; the plain song.

Earthnoun

The connection of any part an electric conductor with the ground; specif., the connection of a telegraph line with the ground through a fault or otherwise.

Groundnoun

The pit of a theatre.

Earthnoun

A plowing.

‘Such land as ye break up for barley to sow,Two earths at the least, ere ye sow it, bestow.’;

Groundverb

(US) To connect (an electrical conductor or device) to a ground.

Earthverb

To hide, or cause to hide, in the earth; to chase into a burrow or den.

Groundverb

(transitive) To punish, especially a child or teenager, by forcing him/her to stay at home and/or give up certain privileges.

‘If you don't clean your room, I'll have no choice but to ground you.’; ‘Eric, you are grounded until further notice for lying to us about where you were last night!’; ‘My kids are currently grounded from television.’;

Earthverb

To cover with earth or mold; to inter; to bury; - sometimes with up.

‘The miser earths his treasure, and the thief,Watching the mole, half beggars him ere noon.’; ‘Why this in earthing up a carcass?’;

Groundverb

(transitive) To forbid (an aircraft or pilot) to fly.

‘Because of the bad weather, all flights were grounded.’;

Earthverb

To burrow.

Groundverb

To give a basic education in a particular subject; to instruct in elements or first principles.

‘Jim was grounded in maths.’;

Earthnoun

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet on which we live;

‘the Earth moves around the sun’; ‘he sailed around the world’;

Groundverb

(baseball) to hit a ground ball; to hit a ground ball which results in an out. Compare fly (verb(regular)) and line (verb).

‘Jones grounded to second in his last at-bat.’;

Earthnoun

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

‘they dug into the earth outside the church’;

Groundverb

(cricket) (of a batsman) to place his bat, or part of his body, on the ground behind the popping crease so as not to be run out

Earthnoun

the solid part of the earth's surface;

‘the plane turned away from the sea and moved back over land’; ‘the earth shook for several minutes’; ‘he dropped the logs on the ground’;

Groundverb

(intransitive) To run aground; to strike the bottom and remain fixed.

‘The ship grounded on the bar.’;

Earthnoun

the abode of mortals (as contrasted with heaven or hell);

‘it was hell on earth’;

Groundverb

To found; to fix or set, as on a foundation, reason, or principle; to furnish a ground for; to fix firmly.

Earthnoun

once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles)

Groundverb

(fine arts) To cover with a ground, as a copper plate for etching, or as paper or other materials with a uniform tint as a preparation for ornament.

Earthnoun

the concerns of the world as distinguished from heaven and the afterlife;

‘they consider the church to be independent of the world’;

Groundverb

To improve or focus the mental or emotional state of.

‘I ground myself with meditation.’;

Earthnoun

a connection between an electrical device and the earth (which is a zero voltage)

Groundverb

simple past tense and past participle of grind

‘I ground the coffee up nicely.’;

Earthverb

hide in the earth like a hunted animal

Groundadjective

Crushed, or reduced to small particles.

‘ground mustard seed’;

Earthverb

connect to the earth;

‘earth the circuit’;

Groundadjective

Processed by grinding.

‘lenses of ground glass’;

Earthnoun

the planet on which we live; the world

‘the diversity of life on earth’;

Groundnoun

The surface of the earth; the outer crust of the globe, or some indefinite portion of it.

‘There was not a man to till the ground.’; ‘The fire ran along upon the ground.’;

Earthnoun

the surface of the world as distinct from the sky or the sea

‘the pilot brought the plane gently back to earth’;

Groundnoun

Any definite portion of the earth's surface; region; territory; country.

‘From . . . old Euphrates, to the brook that parts Egypt from Syrian ground.’;

Earthnoun

the present abode of humankind, as distinct from heaven or hell

‘God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven’;

Groundnoun

Land; estate; possession; field; esp. (pl.), the gardens, lawns, fields, etc., belonging to a homestead; as, the grounds of the estate are well kept.

‘Thy next design is on thy neighbor's grounds.’;

Earthnoun

the substance of the land surface; soil

‘a layer of earth’;

Groundnoun

The basis on which anything rests; foundation. Hence: The foundation of knowledge, belief, or conviction; a premise, reason, or datum; ultimate or first principle; cause of existence or occurrence; originating force or agency; as, the ground of my hope.

Earthnoun

one of the four elements in ancient and medieval philosophy and in astrology (considered essential to the nature of the signs Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn)

‘an earth sign’;

Groundnoun

That surface upon which the figures of a composition are set, and which relieves them by its plainness, being either of one tint or of tints but slightly contrasted with one another; as, crimson Bowers on a white ground.

Earthnoun

used in names of stable, dense, non-volatile inorganic substances, e.g. fuller's earth

‘these crayons are made with a mixture of native earths plus softeners such as China clay’;

Groundnoun

A gummy composition spread over the surface of a metal to be etched, to prevent the acid from eating except where an opening is made by the needle.

Earthnoun

the substance of the human body

‘we now commit his body to the ground: earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust’;

Groundnoun

One of the pieces of wood, flush with the plastering, to which moldings, etc., are attached; - usually in the plural.

Earthnoun

electrical connection to the ground, regarded as having zero electrical potential.

‘ensure metal fittings are electrically bonded to earth’;

Groundnoun

A composition in which the bass, consisting of a few bars of independent notes, is continually repeated to a varying melody.

‘On that ground I'll build a holy descant.’;

Earthnoun

the underground lair of a badger or fox.

Groundnoun

A conducting connection with the earth, whereby the earth is made part of an electrical circuit.

Earthverb

connect (an electrical device) with the ground

‘the front metal panels must be soundly earthed’;

Groundnoun

Sediment at the bottom of liquors or liquids; dregs; lees; feces; as, coffee grounds.

Earthverb

drive (a fox) to its underground lair.

Groundnoun

The pit of a theater.

‘There is no way for duty to prevail, and get ground of them, but by bidding higher.’; ‘These nine . . . began to give me ground.’;

Earthverb

(of a fox) run to its underground lair.

Groundverb

To lay, set, or run, on the ground.

Earthverb

cover the root and lower stem of a plant with heaped-up earth

‘the stems can be earthed up when the plant is about one foot high’;

Groundverb

To found; to fix or set, as on a foundation, reason, or principle; to furnish a ground for; to fix firmly.

‘Being rooted and grounded in love.’; ‘So far from warranting any inference to the existence of a God, would, on the contrary, ground even an argument to his negation.’;

Earth

Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor and support life. About 29.2% of Earth's surface is land consisting of continents and islands.

Groundverb

To instruct in elements or first principles.

Groundverb

To connect with the ground so as to make the earth a part of an electrical circuit.

Groundverb

To cover with a ground, as a copper plate for etching (see Ground, n., 5); or as paper or other materials with a uniform tint as a preparation for ornament.

Groundverb

To forbid (a pilot) to fly an airplane; - usually as a disciplinary measure, or for reasons of ill health sufficient to interfere with performance.

Groundverb

To forbid (aircraft) to fly; - usually due to the unsafe condition of the aircraft or lack of conformity to safety regulations; as, the discovery of a crack in the wing of a Trijet caused the whole fleeet to be grounded for inspection.

Groundverb

To temporarily restrict the activities of (a child), especially social activity outside the house; - usually for bad or unsatisfactory conduct; as, Johnny was grounded for fighting at school and can't go to the movies for two weeks.

Groundverb

To run aground; to strike the bottom and remain fixed; as, the ship grounded on the bar.

Ground

imp. & p. p. of Grind.

Groundnoun

the solid part of the earth's surface;

‘the plane turned away from the sea and moved back over land’; ‘the earth shook for several minutes’; ‘he dropped the logs on the ground’;

Groundnoun

a rational motive for a belief or action;

‘the reason that war was declared’; ‘the grounds for their declaration’;

Groundnoun

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

‘they dug into the earth outside the church’;

Groundnoun

a relation that provides the foundation for something;

‘they were on a friendly footing’; ‘he worked on an interim basis’;

Groundnoun

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

‘they gained ground step by step’; ‘they fought to regain the lost ground’;

Groundnoun

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

‘he posed her against a background of rolling hills’;

Groundnoun

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’; ‘good agricultural soil’;

Groundnoun

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

Groundnoun

a connection between an electrical device and the earth (which is a zero voltage)

Groundnoun

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

Groundnoun

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

Groundverb

fix firmly and stably;

‘anchor the lamppost in concrete’;

Groundverb

confine or restrict to the ground;

‘After the accident, they grounded the plane and the pilot’;

Groundverb

place or put on the ground

Groundverb

instruct someone in the fundamentals of a subject

Groundverb

bring to the ground;

‘the storm grounded the ship’;

Groundverb

hit or reach the ground

Groundverb

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

Groundverb

hit a groundball;

‘he grounded to the second baseman’;

Groundverb

hit onto the ground

Groundverb

cover with a primer; apply a primer to

Groundverb

connect to a ground;

‘ground the electrical connections for safety reasons’;

Groundverb

use as a basis for; found on;

‘base a claim on some observation’;

Groundadjective

broken or pounded into small fragments; used of e.g. ore or stone;

‘paved with crushed bluestone’; ‘ground glass is used as an abrasive’;

Groundnoun

the solid surface of the earth

‘he lay on the ground’;

Groundnoun

a limited extent of the earth's surface; land

‘an adjoining area of ground had been purchased’;

Groundnoun

land of a specified kind

‘my feet squelched over marshy ground’;

Groundnoun

relating to actions or activities taking place on the ground rather than the air

‘the airline's ground staff’; ‘a ground assault’;

Groundnoun

living or growing on or close to the ground

‘ground flora’;

Groundnoun

an area of land or sea used for a specified purpose

‘shore dumping can pollute fishing grounds’;

Groundnoun

an area of enclosed land surrounding a large house or other building

‘the house stands in seven acres of grounds’; ‘the university grounds’;

Groundnoun

an area of land, often with associated buildings, used for a particular sport

‘Liverpool's new ground is nearing completion’; ‘a football ground’;

Groundnoun

an area of knowledge or subject of discussion or thought

‘third-year courses cover less ground and go into more depth’; ‘he shifted the argument on to theoretical grounds of his own choosing’;

Groundnoun

factors forming a basis for action or the justification for a belief

‘they called for a retrial on the grounds of the new evidence’; ‘there are some grounds for optimism’;

Groundnoun

a prepared surface to which paint is applied.

Groundnoun

a substance used to prepare a surface for painting.

Groundnoun

(in embroidery or ceramics) a plain surface to which decoration is applied.

Groundnoun

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

Groundnoun

solid particles, especially of coffee, which form a residue; sediment

‘machines which presoak the coffee grounds produce a superior cup of coffee’;

Groundnoun

electrical connection to the earth.

Groundnoun

short for ground bass

Groundverb

prohibit or prevent (a pilot or an aircraft) from flying

‘a bitter wind blew from the north-east and the bombers were grounded’;

Groundverb

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

‘he was grounded for hitting her on the head’;

Groundverb

(with reference to a ship) run or go aground

‘rather than be blown up, Muller grounded his ship on a coral reef’;

Groundverb

give (something abstract) a firm theoretical or practical basis

‘the study of history must be grounded in a thorough knowledge of the past’;

Groundverb

instruct (someone) thoroughly in a subject

‘Eva's governess grounded her in Latin and Greek’;

Groundverb

place (something) on the ground or touch the ground with (something)

‘he was penalized two strokes for grounding his club in a bunker’;

Groundverb

connect (an electrical device) with the ground.

Groundverb

(of a batter) hit a pitched ball so that it bounces on the ground

‘he grounded to second’;

Groundverb

(of a batter) be put out by hitting a ball on the ground to a fielder who throws it to or touches first base before the batter touches that base

‘he grounded out to shortstop’;

Groundverb

past and past participle of grind

Groundadjective

reduced to fine particles by crushing or mincing

‘ground cumin’;

Groundadjective

shaped, roughened, or polished by grinding

‘the thick opaque ground perimeter of the lenses’;