| ground | 1. 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." (Gen. Ii. 5) "The fire ran along upon the ground." (Ex. Ix. 23) Hence: A floor or pavement supposed to rest upon the earth. 2. Any definite portion of the earth's surface; region; territory; country. Hence: A territory appropriated to, or resorted to, for a particular purpose; the field or place of action; as, a hunting or fishing ground; a play ground. "From . . . Old Euphrates, to the brook that parts Egypt from Syrian ground." (Milton) 3. Land; estate; possession; field; especially. (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." (Dryden. 4) 4. 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. 5. 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. See Background, Foreground, and Middle-ground. In sculpture, a flat surface upon which figures are raised in relief. In point lace, the net of small meshes upon which the embroidered pattern is applied; as, Brussels ground. See Brussels lace, under Brussels. 6. 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. 7. One of the pieces of wood, flush with the plastering, to which moldings, etc, are attached; usually in the plural. Grounds are usually put up first and the plastering floated flush with them. 8. A composition in which the bass, consisting of a few bars of independent notes, is continually repeated to a varying melody. The tune on which descants are raised; the plain song. "On that ground I'll build a holy descant." (Shak) 9. <physics> A conducting connection with the earth, whereby the earth is made part of an electrical circuit. 10. Sediment at the bottom of liquors or liquids; dregs; lees; feces; as, coffee grounds. 11. The pit of a theater. Ground angling, angling with a weighted line without a float. Ground annual, a small California bird (Chamaea fasciata) allied to the wrens and titmice. It inhibits the arid plains. Called also gronnd tit, and wren lit. To bite the ground, To break ground. See Bite, Break. To come to the ground, To fall to the ground, to come to nothing; to fail; to miscarry. To gain ground. To advance; to proceed forward in confict; as, an army in battle gains ground. To obtain an advantage; to have some success; as, the army gains ground on the enemy. To gain credit; to become more prosperous or influential. To get, or To gather, ground, to gain ground. "Evening mist . . . Gathers ground fast." . "There is no way for duty to prevail, and get ground of them, but by bidding higher." (South) To give ground, to recede; to yield advantage. "These nine . . . Began to give me ground." (Shak) To lose ground, to retire; to retreat; to withdraw from the position taken; hence, to lose advantage; to lose credit or reputation; to decline. To stand one's ground, to stand firm; to resist attack or encroachment. To take the ground to touch bottom or become stranded; said of a ship. Origin: OE. Ground, grund, AS. Grund; akin to D. Grond, OS, G, Sw, & Dan. Grund, Icel. Grunnr bottom, Goth. Grundus (in composition); perh. Orig. Meaning, dust, gravel, and if so perh. Akin to E. Grind. 1. To lay, set, or run, on the ground. 2. 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." (Eph. Iii. 17) "So far from warranting any inference to the existence of a God, would, on the contrary, ground even an argument to his negation." (Sir W. Hamilton) 3. To instruct in elements or first principles. 4. <physics> To connect with the ground so as to make the earth a part of an electrical circuit. 5. To cover with a ground, as a copper plate for etching (see Ground, 5); or as paper or other materials with a uniform tint as a preparation for ornament. Origin: Grounded; Grounding. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| ground bundles | Flechsig's fasciculi or ground bundles (f. Anterior proprius and fasciculus lateralis proprius or lateral ground bundle); intersegmental fasciculi; ascending and descending association fibre systems of the spinal cord which lie deep in the anterior, lateral, and posterior funiculi adjacent to the gray matter. Synonym: ground bundles, intersegmental fasciculi, proper fasciculi. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ground itch | Cutaneous larva migrans caused by larvae of hookworms. Synonym: ancylostoma dermatitis, ancylostomiasis cutis, coolie itch, dew itch, ground itch, swamp itch, swimmer's itch, toe itch, water itch, water sore. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ground itch anaemia | Anaemia associated with hookworm disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ground lamella | One of the lamellae of partially resorbed osteons occurring between newer, complete osteons. Synonym: ground lamella, intermediary system, intermediate lamella. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ground state | <chemistry, radiobiology> The state of a nucleus, atom or molecule at its lowest energy. All other states are excited. (16 Dec 1997) |
| ground substance | The amorphous material in which structural elements occur; in connective tissue, it is composed of proteoglycans, plasma constituents, metabolites, water, and ions present between cells and fibres. Synonym: substantia fundamentalis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ground tissue | <plant biology> Plant tissues other than those of the vascular system and the dermal tissues. Composed of relatively undifferentiated cells. (18 Nov 1997) |
| ground water | That portion of the water below the surface of the ground whose pressure is greater than atmospheric pressure. (09 Oct 1997) |
| ground-glass pattern | Radiographic or CT appearance of hazy opacity which fails to obscure pulmonary vascular markings. (05 Mar 2000) |
| groundling | 1. <zoology> A fish that keeps at the bottom of the water, as the loach. 2. A spectator in the pit of a theater, which formerly was on the ground, and without floor or benches. "No comic buffoon to make the groundlings laugh." (Coleridge) Origin: Ground + -ling. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| groundnut | <botany> The fruit of the Arachis hypogaea (native country uncertain); the peanut; the earthnut. A leguminous, twining plant (Apios tuberosa), producing clusters of dark purple flowers and having a root tuberous and pleasant to the taste. The dwarf ginseng (Aralia trifolia). A European plant of the genus Bunium (B. Flexuosum) having an edible root of a globular shape aud sweet, aromatic taste. Synonym: earthnut, earth chestnut, hawknut, and pignut. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| groundsel | <botany> An annual composite plant (Senecio vulgaris) one of the most common, and widely distributed weeds on the globe. Origin: OE. Grundswilie, AS. Gpundeswylige, grundeswelge, earlier gundiswilge; gund matter, pus + swelgan to swallow. So named as being good for a running from the eye. See Swallow. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| anterior ground bundle | The ground bundle of the anterior column of the spinal cord. See: fasciculi proprii. Synonym: anterior ground bundle. Origin: L. Dim. Of fascis, bundle (05 Mar 2000) |
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| coffee-ground vomit | <gastroenterology, symptom> Vomit consisting of fresh or old blood. See: black vomit. (05 Mar 2000) |
| winter-ground | To coved over in the season of winter, as for protection or shelter; as, to winter-ground the roods of a plant. "The ruddock would . . . Bring thee all this, Yea, and furred moss besides, when flowers are none To winter-ground thy corse." (Shak) Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| dark-ground illumination | dark-field illumination |
| figure and ground | That aspect of perception wherein the perceived is separated into at least two parts, each with different attributes but influencing one another. Figure is the most distinct; ground the least formed; e.g., a bird or tree (figure) seen against the sky (ground). (05 Mar 2000) |
| Flechsig's ground bundles | Fasciculus anterior proprius and fasciculus lateralis proprius. See: fasciculi proprii. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lateral ground bundle | lateral ground bundle |