31 PHRASE If you say that something such as a job or piece of clothing suits someone down to the ground , you mean that it is completely suitable or right for them. [BRIT , INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ]
32 PHRASE If people or things of a particular kind are thin on the ground , there are very few of them. [mainly BRIT ] □ Good managers are often thin on the ground.
33 to have one's ear to the ground → see ear
ground|bait /graʊ ndbe I t/ N‑UNCOUNT Groundbait is food that you throw on to a river or lake when you are fishing in order to attract the fish.
ground|break|ing /graʊ ndbre I k I ŋ/ also ground-breaking ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use groundbreaking to describe things which you think are significant because they provide new and positive ideas, and influence the way people think about things. □ …his groundbreaking novel on homosexuality. □ …groundbreaking research.
ground|cloth /graʊ ndklɒθ/ (groundcloths ) N‑COUNT A groundcloth is a piece of waterproof material which you put on the ground to sleep on when you are camping. [AM ] in BRIT, use groundsheet
grou nd crew (ground crews ) N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] At an airport, the people who look after the planes when they are on the ground are called the ground crew . □ The airport ground crew tried to dissuade the pilot from taking off.
ground|ed /graʊ nd I d/ ADJ If you say that someone is grounded , you mean that they are sensible and reasonable, and that they understand the importance of ordinary things in life. □ Family and old friends help me stay grounded.
grou nd floo r (ground floors ) N‑COUNT The ground floor of a building is the floor that is level or almost level with the ground outside. [BRIT ] □ She showed him around the ground floor of the empty house. □ Jenny now lives in a terraced ground floor flat. in AM, use first floor
ground|hog /graʊ ndhɒg, [AM ] -hɔːg/ (groundhogs ) N‑COUNT A groundhog is a type of small animal with reddish-brown fur that is found in North America.
ground|ing /graʊ nd I ŋ/ N‑SING If you have a grounding in a subject, you know the basic facts or principles of that subject, especially as a result of a particular course of training or instruction. □ [+ in ] The degree provides a thorough grounding in both mathematics and statistics.
ground|less /graʊ ndləs/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you say that a fear, accusation, or story is groundless , you mean that it is not based on evidence and is unlikely to be true or valid. □ Fears that the world was about to run out of fuel proved groundless. □ A ministry official described the report as groundless.
grou nd lev|el N‑UNCOUNT [oft prep N ] If something is at ground level , it is at the same level as the ground, as opposed to being higher up or below the surface. □ The hotel is set on three floors. There's a bar and cafe at ground level. □ The remaining block of woodland is cut down to ground level.
ground|nut /graʊ ndnʌt/ (groundnuts ) N‑COUNT A groundnut is a peanut . [mainly BRIT ]
grou nd plan (ground plans )
1 N‑COUNT In British English, a ground plan is a plan of the ground floor of a building. In American English, a ground plan is a plan of any floor of a building.
2 N‑COUNT A ground plan is a basic plan for future action.
grou nd rent (ground rents ) N‑VAR Ground rent is rent that is paid by the owner of a flat or house to the owner of the land on which it is built. [mainly BRIT ]
grou nd rule (ground rules ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] The ground rules for something are the basic principles on which future action will be based. □ [+ for/of ] The panel says the ground rules for the current talks should be maintained.
ground|sheet /graʊ ndʃiːt/ (groundsheets ) N‑COUNT A groundsheet is a piece of waterproof material which you put on the ground to sleep on when you are camping. [BRIT ] in AM, use groundcloth
grounds|keeper /graʊ ndzkiːpə r / (groundskeepers ) N‑COUNT A groundskeeper is the same as a groundsman . [AM ]
grounds|man /graʊ ndzmən/ (groundsmen ) N‑COUNT A groundsman is a person whose job is to look after a park or sports ground. [BRIT ] in AM, use groundskeeper
grou nd staff
1 N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] The people who are paid to maintain a sports ground are called the ground staff . □ The ground staff do all they can to prepare the pitch.
2 N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] At an airport, the ground staff are the employees of aeroplane companies who do not fly with the planes, but who work in the airport helping passengers and providing information. □ There had been a strike amongst British Airways ground staff.
ground|swell /graʊ ndswel/ N‑SING A sudden growth of public feeling or support for something is often called a groundswell . [JOURNALISM ] □ [+ of ] There is undoubtedly a groundswell of support for the idea of a strong central authority. □ [+ of ] The groundswell of opinion is in favour of a referendum.
ground|water /graʊ ndwɔːtə r / N‑UNCOUNT Groundwater is water that is found under the ground. Groundwater has usually passed down through the soil and become trapped by rocks.
ground|work /graʊ ndwɜː r k/ N‑SING The groundwork for something is the early work on it which forms the basis for further work. □ Yesterday's meeting was to lay the groundwork for the task ahead.
group ◆◆◆ /gruː p/ (groups , grouping , grouped )
1 N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] A group of people or things is a number of people or things which are together in one place at one time. □ [+ of ] The trouble involved a small group of football supporters. □ The students work in groups on complex problems.