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.
      1913 webster

            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.
      1913 webster

            from . . . old euphrates, to the brook that parts
            egypt from syrian ground.             --milton.
      1913 webster

   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.
      1913 webster

            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.
      1913 webster

   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.
         1913 webster

   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 carabidae, 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 chamaecerasus, 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 coccidae
      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.
           chamaepitys, 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 amoena. 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 pittidae.
      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 chamaea
      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.
      1913 webster

            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.
      1913 webster
see also:
background foreground middle-ground brussels lace brussels ground angling 
ground annual ground ash groutweed ground bailiff ground bait 
ground bass ground base ground beetle carabidae ground chamber 
ground cherry physalis physalis alkekengi alkekengl prunus chamaecerasus 
ground cuckoo chaparral cock ground cypress lavender cotton ground dove 
columbigallina c. passerina ground fish ground floor first floor 
ground form ground furze ononis arvensis rest-harrow ground game 
ground hele veronica officinalis ground of the heavens ground hemlock taxus baccata 
ground hog arctomys monax woodchuck ground hold ground ice 
ground ivy gill ground joist ground lark pipit 
ground laurel trailing arbutus arbutus ground line ground liverwort 
marchantia polymorpha ground mail ground mass ground parrakeet callipsittacus 
geopsittacus ground pearl coccidae margarodes formicarum ground pig 
aulacodus swinderianus ground rat ground pigeon didunculus strigirostris goura 
ground pine ajuga a. chamaepitys teucrium lycopodium 
l. clavatum club moss l. dendroideum ground plan ground plane 
ground plate ground plot ground plum astragalus caryocarpus ground rat 
ground rent ground robin chewink ground room ground sea 
rollers the north sea ground sill ground snake celuta amoena 
ground squirrel tamias spermophilus chipmunk gopher 
xerus ground story ground substance ground swell ground table 
ground tackle ground thrush pittidae pitta ground tier 
ground timbers ground tit ground wren ground wheel chamaea fasciata 
ground tit wren tit to bite the ground to break ground bite 
break to come to the ground to fall to the ground to gain ground to get ground 
to gather ground to give ground to lose ground to stand one's ground to take the ground 

rat \rat\ ra^t, n. as. raet; akin to d. rat, ohg. rato,
   ratta, g. ratte, ratze, olg. ratta, lg.  dan. rotte, sw.
   ratta, f. rat, ir.  gael radan, armor. raz, of unknown
   origin. cf. raccoon.
   1. zool. one of several species of small rodents of the
      genus rattus formerly included in mus and allied
      genera, of the family muridae, distinguished from mice
      primarily by being larger. they infest houses, stores, and
      ships, especially the norway rat, also called brown rat,
      rattus norvegicus formerly mus decumanus, the black
      rat rattus rattus formerly mus rattus, and the roof
      rat formerly mus alexandrinus, now included in rattus
      rattus. these were introduced into america from the old
      world. the white rat used most commonly in laboratories is
      primarily a strain derived from rattus rattus.
      1913 webster +pjc

   2. a round and tapering mass of hair, or similar material,
      used by women to support the puffs and rolls of their
      natural hair. local, u.s.
      1913 webster

   3. one who deserts his party or associates; hence, in the
      trades, one who works for lower wages than those
      prescribed by a trades union. cant
      1913 webster

   note: "it so chanced that, not long after the accession of
         the house of hanover, some of the brown, that is the
         german or norway, rats, were first brought over to this
         country in some timber as is said; and being much
         stronger than the black, or, till then, the common,
         rats, they in many places quite extirpated the latter.
         the word both the noun and the verb to rat was first,
         as we have seen, leveled at the converts to the
         government of george the first, but has by degrees
         obtained a wider meaning, and come to be applied to any
         sudden and mercenary change in politics." --lord mahon.
         1913 webster

   bamboo rat zool., any indian rodent of the genus
      rhizomys.

   beaver rat, coast rat. zool. see under beaver and
      coast.

   blind rat zool., the mole rat.

   cotton rat zool., a long-haired rat sigmodon
      hispidus, native of the southern united states and
      mexico. it makes its nest of cotton and is often injurious
      to the crop.

   ground rat. see ground pig, under ground.

   hedgehog rat. see under hedgehog.

   kangaroo rat zool., the potoroo.

   norway rat zool., the common brown rat. see rat.

   pouched rat. zool.
      a see pocket gopher, under pocket.
      b any african rodent of the genus cricetomys.

   rat indians ethnol., a tribe of indians dwelling near
      fort ukon, alaska. they belong to the athabascan stock.

   rat mole. zool. see mole rat, under mole.

   rat pit, an inclosed space into which rats are put to be
      killed by a dog for sport.

   rat snake zool., a large colubrine snake ptyas
      mucosus very common in india and ceylon. it enters
      dwellings, and destroys rats, chickens, etc.

   spiny rat zool., any south american rodent of the genus
      echinomys.

   to smell a rat. see under smell.

   wood rat zool., any american rat of the genus neotoma,
      especially neotoma floridana, common in the southern
      united states. its feet and belly are white.
      1913 webster
see also:
raccoon rattus mus muridae brown rat rattus norvegicus 
mus decumanus rattus rattus mus rattus mus alexandrinus rattus rattus 
bamboo rat rhizomys beaver rat coast rat beaver 
coast blind rat cotton rat sigmodon hispidus ground rat 
ground pig ground hedgehog rat hedgehog kangaroo rat 
norway rat rat pouched rat pocket gopher pocket 
cricetomys rat indians rat mole mole rat mole 
rat pit rat snake ptyas mucosus spiny rat echinomys 
to smell a rat smell wood rat neotoma neotoma floridana