Ground the Verb and Ground the Noun Are Different Words
Ground is the earth's surface. It is also the past tense of grind, and the two are unrelated.
Ground is the solid surface of the earth. It is also the past tense of *grind*, and the two have no connection: the noun comes from Old English *grund*, a bottom or foundation, while the verb form comes from *grindan*, to crush. Ground coffee and ground floor share four letters and nothing else.
- The earth's surface. *Solid ground.*
- A reason. *Grounds for appeal.*
- To prevent from flying. *The flight was grounded.*
- Past tense of grind. *Freshly ground pepper.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | ground | Rough ground. |
| Plural | grounds | Coffee grounds. |
| Verb | ground | Ground the aircraft. |
| Verb (grind) | ground | Ground to a halt. |
| Related | grind | Grind the beans. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Ground floor in Britain is first floor in America.A recurring source of confusion.
- Grounds for divorce.Legal reasons.
- Coffee grounds went on the compost.From grind.
Ground phrases
- Break new ground — do something original
- Gain ground — make progress
- Stand your ground — refuse to retreat
- Run into the ground — exhaust or overuse
- Get off the ground — begin successfully
From Old English *grund*, a bottom or foundation. The verb form of *grind* is a separate word from Old English *grindan*.
Ground floor or first floor?
In Britain the ground floor is at street level and the first floor is above it. In America the first floor is at street level.
Are the two grounds related?
No. The noun means a foundation; the verb form is the past of grind. They fell together by coincidence.