ground
noun
uk/ɡraʊnd/ us [ C, usually plural ]
a reason for something:
on (the) grounds of sth The doctor refused to surrender patient records on grounds of confidentiality.
on the grounds that Researchers shut down the trial on the grounds that the vaccine was proving ineffective
grounds for sth Only 13 of the contracts examined listed incompetence as legitimate grounds for dismissal.
on health/environmental/legal grounds The college was shut on health and safety grounds.
See also
battleground
dumping ground
drive/run/work sb into the ground
to make someone work very hard, especially so that they become ill or extremely tired:
Although we worked everyone into the ground, we didn't get the job done in time.
They were running themselves into the ground.
drive/run/work sth into the ground
to use something so much that it breaks or stops working:
They decided to run the car into the ground instead of changing it.
gain/make ground
to become more popular or successful:
Despite making ground within her own party, she still has to watch her back.
gain/make ground on sb The search engine is continuing to gain ground on the market leader.
FINANCE
to increase in value:
The shares have steadily made ground.
gain/make ground against sth The Euro continued to gain ground against the pound and the dollar through the course of the week.
get off the ground
if a project or activity gets off the ground, it starts or starts to be successful:
There is a difference between a project which never gets off the ground and one which suddenly goes bad.
get sth off the ground
to start a project or activity or to start making it successful:
A lot more money will be required to get this project off the ground.
give/lose ground
to become less popular or successful:
Smaller parties always lose ground in elections.
give/lose ground to sb The firm is continuing to give ground to its foreign rivals.
ground
verb [ T ]
TRANSPORT uk/ɡraʊnd/ usto prevent a ship or aircraft from sailing or flying:
The bad weather meant that helicopters were grounded.