Definition of Grounds

Noun: grounds grawndz

Your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
"the grounds that smoking causes lung cancer is very compelling";
- evidence
The enclosed land around a house or other building
"it was a small house with almost no grounds";
- yard [N. Amer], curtilage
A tract of land cleared for some special purposes (recreation or burial etc.)
A justification for something existing or happening
"he had no grounds to complain";
- cause, reason
Dregs consisting of solid particles (especially of coffee) that form a residue
"it is a Middle Eastern custom to read your future in your coffee grounds"

Noun: ground grawnd

The solid part of the earth's surface
"he dropped the logs on the ground"; "the plane turned away from the sea and moved back over solid ground";
- land, dry land, earth, solid ground, terra firma
A rational motive for a belief or action
"the grounds for their declaration";
- reason
The loose soft material that makes up a large part of the land surface
"they dug into the ground outside the church";
- earth
A relation that provides the foundation for something
- footing, basis
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"
The part of a scene (or picture) that lies behind objects in the foreground
"he posed her against a ground of rolling hills";
- background, backdrop
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 ground had never been ploughed";
- land, soil
A relatively homogeneous percept extending back of the figure on which attention is focused
(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 [Brit]
(art) the surface (as a wall or canvas) prepared to take the paint for a painting
The first or preliminary coat of paint or size applied to a surface
- flat coat, primer, priming, primer coat, priming coat, undercoat

Verb: ground grawnd

Fix firmly and stably
"ground the lamppost in concrete";
- anchor
Confine or restrict to the ground
"After the accident, they grounded the plane and the pilot"
Place or put on the ground
Instruct someone in the fundamentals of a subject
Bring to the ground
"the storm grounded the ship";
- strand, run aground
Hit or reach the ground
- run aground
(football) throw to the ground in order to stop play and avoid being tackled behind the line of scrimmage
(baseball) hit a groundball
"he grounded to the second baseman"
(baseball) hit onto the ground
Cover with a primer; apply a primer to
- prime, undercoat
Connect to a ground
"ground the electrical connections for safety reasons"
Use as a basis for; found on
- establish, base, found