from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
ground \ground\ (ground), n. [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. The surface of the earth; the outer crust of the globe, or
some indefinite portion of it.
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There was not a man to till the ground. --Gen. ii.
5.
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The fire ran along upon the ground. --Ex. ix. 23.
Hence: A floor or pavement supposed to rest upon the
earth.
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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.
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From . . . old Euphrates, to the brook that parts
Egypt from Syrian ground. --Milton.
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3. Land; estate; possession; field; esp. (pl.), the gardens,
lawns, fields, etc., belonging to a homestead; as, the
grounds of the estate are well kept.
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Thy next design is on thy neighbor's grounds.
--Dryden. 4.
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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.
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5. (Paint. & Decorative Art)
(a) 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}.
(b) In sculpture, a flat surface upon which figures are
raised in relief.
(c) In point lace, the net of small meshes upon which the
embroidered pattern is applied; as, Brussels ground.
See {Brussels lace}, under {Brussels}.
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6. (Etching) 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.
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7. (Arch.) One of the pieces of wood, flush with the
plastering, to which moldings, etc., are attached; --
usually in the plural.
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Note: Grounds are usually put up first and the plastering
floated flush with them.
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8. (Mus.)
(a) A composition in which the bass, consisting of a few
bars of independent notes, is continually repeated to
a varying melody.
(b) The tune on which descants are raised; the plain song.
--Moore (Encyc.).
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On that ground I'll build a holy descant.
--Shak.
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9. (Elec.) A conducting connection with the earth, whereby
the earth is made part of an electrical circuit.
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10. pl. Sediment at the bottom of liquors or liquids; dregs;
lees; feces; as, coffee grounds.
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11. The pit of a theater. [Obs.] --B. Jonson.
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{Ground angling}, angling with a weighted line without a
float.
{Ground annual} (Scots Law), an estate created in land by a
vassal who instead of selling his land outright reserves
an annual ground rent, which becomes a perpetual charge
upon the land.
{Ground ash}. (Bot.) See {Groutweed}.
{Ground bailiff} (Mining), a superintendent of mines.
--Simmonds.
{Ground bait}, bits of bread, boiled barley or worms, etc.,
thrown into the water to collect the fish, --Wallon.
{Ground bass} or {Ground base} (Mus.), fundamental base; a
fundamental base continually repeated to a varied melody.
{Ground beetle} (Zool.), one of numerous species of
carnivorous beetles of the family {Carabid[ae]}, living
mostly in burrows or under stones, etc.
{Ground chamber}, a room on the ground floor.
{Ground cherry}. (Bot.)
(a) A genus ({Physalis}) of herbaceous plants having an
inflated calyx for a seed pod: esp., the strawberry
tomato ({Physalis Alkekengi}). See {Alkekengl}.
(b) A European shrub ({Prunus Cham[ae]cerasus}), with
small, very acid fruit.
{Ground cuckoo}. (Zool.) See {Chaparral cock}.
{Ground cypress}. (Bot.) See {Lavender cotton}.
{Ground dove} (Zool.), one of several small American pigeons
of the genus {Columbigallina}, esp. {C. passerina} of the
Southern United States, Mexico, etc. They live chiefly on
the ground.
{Ground fish} (Zool.), any fish which constantly lives on the
botton of the sea, as the sole, turbot, halibut.
{Ground floor}, the floor of a house most nearly on a level
with the ground; -- called also in America, but not in
England, the {first floor}.
{Ground form} (Gram.), the stem or basis of a word, to which
the other parts are added in declension or conjugation. It
is sometimes, but not always, the same as the root.
{Ground furze} (Bot.), a low slightly thorny, leguminous
shrub ({Ononis arvensis}) of Europe and Central Asia,; --
called also {rest-harrow}.
{Ground game}, hares, rabbits, etc., as distinguished from
winged game.
{Ground hele} (Bot.), a perennial herb ({Veronica
officinalis}) with small blue flowers, common in Europe
and America, formerly thought to have curative properties.
{Ground of the heavens} (Astron.), the surface of any part of
the celestial sphere upon which the stars may be regarded
as projected.
{Ground hemlock} (Bot.), the yew ({Taxus baccata} var.
Canadensisi) of eastern North America, distinguished from
that of Europe by its low, straggling stems.
{Ground hog}. (Zool.)
(a) The woodchuck or American marmot ({Arctomys monax}).
See {Woodchuck}.
(b) The aardvark.
{Ground hold} (Naut.), ground tackle. [Obs.] --Spenser.
{Ground ice}, ice formed at the bottom of a body of water
before it forms on the surface.
{Ground ivy}. (Bot.) A trailing plant; alehoof. See {Gill}.
{Ground joist}, a joist for a basement or ground floor; a.
sleeper.
{Ground lark} (Zool.), the European pipit. See {Pipit}.
{Ground laurel} (Bot.). See {Trailing arbutus}, under
{Arbutus}.
{Ground line} (Descriptive Geom.), the line of intersection
of the horizontal and vertical planes of projection.
{Ground liverwort} (Bot.), a flowerless plant with a broad
flat forking thallus and the fruit raised on peduncled and
radiated receptacles ({Marchantia polymorpha}).
{Ground mail}, in Scotland, the fee paid for interment in a
churchyard.
{Ground mass} (Geol.), the fine-grained or glassy base of a
rock, in which distinct crystals of its constituents are
embedded.
{Ground parrakeet} (Zool.), one of several Australian
parrakeets, of the genera {Callipsittacus} and
{Geopsittacus}, which live mainly upon the ground.
{Ground pearl} (Zool.), an insect of the family {Coccid[ae]}
({Margarodes formicarum}), found in ants' nests in the
Bahamas, and having a shelly covering. They are strung
like beads, and made into necklaces by the natives.
{Ground pig} (Zool.), a large, burrowing, African rodent
({Aulacodus Swinderianus}) about two feet long, allied to
the porcupines but with harsh, bristly hair, and no
spines; -- called also {ground rat}.
{Ground pigeon} (Zool.), one of numerous species of pigeons
which live largely upon the ground, as the tooth-billed
pigeon ({Didunculus strigirostris}), of the Samoan
Islands, and the crowned pigeon, or goura. See {Goura},
and {Ground dove} (above).
{Ground pine}. (Bot.)
(a) A blue-flowered herb of the genus {Ajuga} ({A.
Cham[ae]pitys}), formerly included in the genus
{Teucrium} or germander, and named from its resinous
smell. --Sir J. Hill.
(b) A long, creeping, evergreen plant of the genus
{Lycopodium} ({L. clavatum}); -- called also {club
moss}.
(c) A tree-shaped evergreen plant about eight inches in
height, of the same genus ({L. dendroideum}) found in
moist, dark woods in the northern part of the United
States. --Gray.
{Ground plan} (Arch.), a plan of the ground floor of any
building, or of any floor, as distinguished from an
elevation or perpendicular section.
{Ground plane}, the horizontal plane of projection in
perspective drawing.
{Ground plate}.
(a) (Arch.) One of the chief pieces of framing of a
building; a timber laid horizontally on or near the
ground to support the uprights; a ground sill or
groundsel.
(b) (Railroads) A bed plate for sleepers or ties; a
mudsill.
(c) (Teleg.) A metallic plate buried in the earth to
conduct the electric current thereto. Connection to
the pipes of a gas or water main is usual in cities.
--Knight.
{Ground plot}, the ground upon which any structure is
erected; hence, any basis or foundation; also, a ground
plan.
{Ground plum} (Bot.), a leguminous plant ({Astragalus
caryocarpus}) occurring from the Saskatchewan to Texas,
and having a succulent plum-shaped pod.
{Ground rat}. (Zool.) See {Ground pig} (above).
{Ground rent}, rent paid for the privilege of building on
another man's land.
{Ground robin}. (Zool.) See {Chewink}.
{Ground room}, a room on the ground floor; a lower room.
--Tatler.
{Ground sea}, the West Indian name for a swell of the ocean,
which occurs in calm weather and without obvious cause,
breaking on the shore in heavy roaring billows; -- called
also {rollers}, and in Jamaica, {the North sea}.
{Ground sill}. See {Ground plate} (a) (above).
{Ground snake} (Zool.), a small burrowing American snake
({Celuta am[oe]na}). It is salmon colored, and has a blunt
tail.
{Ground squirrel}. (Zool.)
(a) One of numerous species of burrowing rodents of the
genera {Tamias} and {Spermophilus}, having cheek
pouches. The former genus includes the Eastern
striped squirrel or chipmunk and some allied Western
species; the latter includes the prairie squirrel or
striped gopher, the gray gopher, and many allied
Western species. See {Chipmunk}, and {Gopher}.
(b) Any species of the African genus {Xerus}, allied to
{Tamias}.
{Ground story}. Same as {Ground floor} (above).
{Ground substance} (Anat.), the intercellular substance, or
matrix, of tissues.
{Ground swell}.
(a) (Bot.) The plant groundsel. [Obs.] --Holland.
(b) A broad, deep swell or undulation of the ocean,
caused by a long continued gale, and felt even at a
remote distance after the gale has ceased.
{Ground table}. (Arch.) See Earth table, under Earth.
{Ground tackle} (Naut.), the tackle necessary to secure a
vessel at anchor. --Totten.
{Ground thrush} (Zool.), one of numerous species of
bright-colored Oriental birds of the family {Pittid[ae]}.
See {Pitta}.
{Ground tier}.
(a) The lowest tier of water casks in a vessel's hold.
--Totten.
(b) The lowest line of articles of any kind stowed in a
vessel's hold.
(c) The lowest range of boxes in a theater.
{Ground timbers} (Shipbuilding) the timbers which lie on the
keel and are bolted to the keelson; floor timbers.
--Knight.
{Ground tit}. (Zool.) See {Ground wren} (below).
{Ground wheel}, that wheel of a harvester, mowing machine,
etc., which, rolling on the ground, drives the mechanism.
{Ground wren} (Zool.), a small California bird ({Cham[ae]a
fasciata}) allied to the wrens and titmice. It inhabits
the arid plains. Called also {ground tit}, and {wren tit}.
{To bite the ground}, {To break ground}. See under {Bite},
{Break}.
{To come to the ground}, {To fall to the ground}, to come to
nothing; to fail; to miscarry.
{To gain ground}.
(a) To advance; to proceed forward in conflict; as, an
army in battle gains ground.
(b) To obtain an advantage; to have some success; as, the
army gains ground on the enemy.
(c) To gain credit; to become more prosperous or
influential.
{To get ground}, or {To gather ground}, to gain ground. [R.]
"Evening mist . . . gathers ground fast." --Milton.
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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.
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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. --Atterbury.
{To take the ground} to touch bottom or become stranded; --
said of a ship.
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from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Winter \Win"ter\, n. [AS. winter; akin to OFries. & D. winter,
OS. & OHG. wintar, G. winter, D. & Sw. vinter, Icel. vetr,
Goth. wintrus; of uncertain origin; cf. Old Gallic vindo-
white (in comp.), OIr. find white. ????.]
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1. The season of the year in which the sun shines most
obliquely upon any region; the coldest season of the year.
"Of thirty winter he was old." --Chaucer.
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And after summer evermore succeeds
Barren winter, with his wrathful nipping cold.
--Shak.
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Winter lingering chills the lap of May. --Goldsmith.
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Note: North of the equator, winter is popularly taken to
include the months of December, January, and February
(see {Season}). Astronomically, it may be considered to
begin with the winter solstice, about December 21st,
and to end with the vernal equinox, about March 21st.
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2. The period of decay, old age, death, or the like.
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Life's autumn past, I stand on winter's verge.
--Wordsworth.
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{Winter apple}, an apple that keeps well in winter, or that
does not ripen until winter.
{Winter barley}, a kind of barley that is sown in autumn.
{Winter berry} (Bot.), the name of several American shrubs
({Ilex verticillata}, {Ilex laevigata}, etc.) of the Holly
family, having bright red berries conspicuous in winter.
{Winter bloom}. (Bot.)
(a) A plant of the genus Azalea.
(b) A plant of the genus {Hamamelis} ({Hamamelis
Viginica}); witch-hazel; -- so called from its flowers
appearing late in autumn, while the leaves are
falling.
{Winter bud} (Zool.), a statoblast.
{Winter cherry} (Bot.), a plant ({Physalis Alkekengi}) of the
Nightshade family, which has, a red berry inclosed in the
inflated and persistent calyx. See {Alkekengi}.
{Winter cough} (Med.), a form of chronic bronchitis marked by
a cough recurring each winter.
{Winter cress} (Bot.), a yellow-flowered cruciferous plant
({Barbarea vulgaris}).
{Winter crop}, a crop which will bear the winter, or which
may be converted into fodder during the winter.
{Winter duck}. (Zool.)
(a) The pintail.
(b) The old squaw.
{Winter egg} (Zool.), an egg produced in the autumn by many
invertebrates, and destined to survive the winter. Such
eggs usually differ from the summer eggs in having a
thicker shell, and often in being enveloped in a
protective case. They sometimes develop in a manner
different from that of the summer eggs.
{Winter fallow}, ground that is fallowed in winter.
{Winter fat}. (Bot.) Same as {White sage}, under {White}.
{Winter fever} (Med.), pneumonia. [Colloq.]
{Winter flounder}. (Zool.) See the Note under {Flounder}.
{Winter gull} (Zool.), the common European gull; -- called
also {winter mew}. [Prov. Eng.]
{Winter itch}. (Med.) See {Prarie itch}, under {Prairie}.
{Winter lodge}, or {Winter lodgment}. (Bot.) Same as
{Hibernaculum}.
{Winter mew}. (Zool.) Same as {Winter gull}, above. [Prov.
Eng.]
{Winter moth} (Zool.), any one of several species of
geometrid moths which come forth in winter, as the
European species ({Cheimatobia brumata}). These moths have
rudimentary mouth organs, and eat no food in the imago
state. The female of some of the species is wingless.
{Winter oil}, oil prepared so as not to solidify in
moderately cold weather.
{Winter pear}, a kind of pear that keeps well in winter, or
that does not ripen until winter.
{Winter quarters}, the quarters of troops during the winter;
a winter residence or station.
{Winter rye}, a kind of rye that is sown in autumn.
{Winter shad} (Zool.), the gizzard shad.
{Winter sheldrake} (Zool.), the goosander. [Local, U. S.]
{Winter sleep} (Zool.), hibernation.
{Winter snipe} (Zool.), the dunlin.
{Winter solstice}. (Astron.) See {Solstice}, 2.
{Winter teal} (Zool.), the green-winged teal.
{Winter wagtail} (Zool.), the gray wagtail ({Motacilla
melanope}). [Prov. Eng.]
{Winter wheat}, wheat sown in autumn, which lives during the
winter, and ripens in the following summer.
{Winter wren} (Zool.), a small American wren ({Troglodytes
hiemalis}) closely resembling the common wren.
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