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<hw>Grot"to-work`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Artificial and ornamental rockwork in imitation of a grotto.</def>

Cowper.

<h1>Ground</h1> <Xpage=653>

<hw>Ground</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>ground</ets>, <ets>grund</ets>, AS. <ets>grund</ets>; akin to D. <ets>grond</ets>, OS., G., Sw., & Dan. <ets>grund</ets>, Icel. <ets>grunnr</ets> bottom, Goth. <ets>grundus</ets> (in composition); perh. orig. meaning, dust, gravel, and if so perh. akin to E. <ets>grind</ets>.]</ety> 1. <def>The surface of the earth; the outer crust of the globe, or some indefinite portion of it.</def>

<blockquote>There was not a man to till the ground. Gen. ii. 5.</blockquote>

<blockquote>The fire ran along upon the ground. Ex. ix. 23. </blockquote>

Hence: <def>A floor or pavement supposed to rest upon the earth</def>.

2. <def>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>as, a hunting or fishing <ex>ground</ex>; a play <ex>ground</ex>.</as></def>

<blockquote>From . . . old Euphrates, to the brook that parts Egypt from Syrian ground. Milton.</blockquote>

3. <def>Land; estate; possession; field; esp. (<pluf>pl.</pluf>), the gardens, lawns, fields, etc., belonging to a homestead; <as>as, the <ex>grounds</ex> of the estate are well kept</as>.</def>

<blockquote>Thy next design is on thy neighbor's grounds. Dryden. 4. </blockquote>

4. <def>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>as, the <ex>ground</ex> of my hope</as>.</def>

5. <fld>(Paint. & Decorative Art)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>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>as, crimson Bowers on a white <ex>ground</ex></as></def>. See <er>Background</er>, <er>Foreground</er>, and <er>Middle-ground</er>. <sd>(b)</sd> <def>In sculpture, a flat surface upon which figures are raised in relief</def>. <sd>(c)</sd> <def>In point lace, the net of small meshes upon which the embroidered pattern is applied; <as>as, Brussels <ex>ground</ex></as>. See <cref>Brussels lace</cref>, under <er>Brussels</er>.</def>

6. <fld>(Etching)</fld> <def>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.</def>

7. <fld>(Arch.)</fld> <def>One of the pieces of wood, flush with the plastering, to which moldings, etc., are attached; -- usually in the plural.</def>

<note>&hand; Grounds are usually put up first and the plastering floated flush with them.</note>

8. <fld>(Mus.)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>A composition in which the bass, consisting of a few bars of independent notes, is continually repeated to a varying melody.</def> <sd>(b)</sd> <def>The tune on which descants are raised; the plain song.</def>

Moore (Encyc.).

<blockquote>On that ground I'll build a holy descant. Shak.</blockquote>

9. <fld>(Elec.)</fld> <def>A conducting connection with the earth, whereby the earth is made part of an electrical circuit.</def>

10. <pluf>pl.</pluf> <def>Sediment at the bottom of liquors or liquids; dregs; lees; feces; <as>as, coffee grounds</as>.</def>

11. <def>The pit of a theater.</def> [Obs.]

B. Jonson.

<cs><col>Ground angling</col>, <cd>angling with a weighted line without a float.</cd> -- <col>Ground annual</col> <fld>(Scots Law)</fld>, <cd>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.</cd> -- <col>Ground ash</col>. <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <cd>See <er>Groutweed</er>.</cd> -- <col>Ground bailiff</col> <fld>(Mining)</fld>, <cd>a superintendent of mines. Simmonds.</cd> -- <col>Ground bait</col>, <cd>bits of bread, boiled barley or worms, etc., thrown into the water to collect the fish, Wallon.</cd> -- <mcol><col>Ground bass</col> &or; <col>base</col></mcol> <fld>(Mus.)</fld>, <cd>fundamental base; a fundamental base continually repeated to a varied melody.</cd> -- <col>Ground beetle</col> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld>, <cd>one of numerous species of carnivorous beetles of the family <spn>Carabid\'91</spn>, living mostly in burrows or under stones, etc.</cd> -- <col>Ground chamber</col>, <cd>a room on the ground floor.</cd> -- <col>Ground cherry</col>. <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <cd>A genus (<spn>Physalis</spn>) of herbaceous plants having an inflated calyx for a seed pod: esp., the strawberry tomato (<spn>P. Alkekengi</spn>). See <er>Alkekengl</er>.</cd> <sd>(b)</sd> <cd>A European shrub (<spn>Prunus Cham\'91cerasus</spn>), with small, very acid fruit.</cd> -- <col>Ground cuckoo</col>. <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <cd>See <er>Chaparral cock</er>.</cd> -- <col>Ground cypress</col>. <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <cd>See <er>Lavender cotton</er>.</cd> -- <col>Ground dove</col> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld>, <cd>one of several small American pigeons of the genus <spn>Columbigallina</spn>, esp. <spn>C. passerina</spn> of the Southern United States, Mexico, etc. They live chiefly on the ground.</cd> -- <col>Ground fish</col> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld>, <cd>any fish which constantly lives on the botton of the sea, as the sole, turbot, halibut.</cd> -- <col>Ground floor</col>, <cd>the floor of a house most nearly on a level with the ground; -- called also in America, but not in England, the <altname>first floor</altname>.</cd> -- <col>Ground form</col> <fld>(Gram.)</fld>, <cd>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.<-- = lemma --></cd> -- <col>Ground furze</col> <fld>(Bot.)</fld>, <cd>a low slightly thorny, leguminous shrub (<spn>Ononis arvensis</spn>) of Europe and Central Asia,; -- called also <altname>rest-harrow</altname>.</cd> -- <col>Ground game</col>, <cd>hares, rabbits, etc., as distinguished from winged game.</cd> -- <col>Ground hele</col> <fld>(Bot.)</fld>, <cd>a perennial herb (<spn>Veronica officinalis</spn>) with small blue flowers, common in Europe and America, formerly thought to have curative properties.</cd> -- <col>Ground of the heavens</col> <fld>(Astron.)</fld>, <cd>the surface of any part of the celestial sphere upon which the stars may be regarded as projected.</cd> -- <col>Ground hemlock</col> <fld>(Bot.)</fld>, <cd>the yew (<spn>Taxus baccata</spn> var. <spn>Canadensisi</spn>) of eastern North America, distinguished from that of Europe by its low, straggling stems.</cd> -- <col>Ground hog</col>. <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <cd>The woodchuck or American marmot (<spn>Arctomys monax</spn>). See <er>Woodchuck</er>.</cd> <sd>(b)</sd> <cd>The aardvark.</cd> -- <col>Ground hold</col> <fld>(Naut.)</fld>, <cd>ground tackle.</cd> [Obs.] Spenser. -- <col>Ground ice</col>, <cd>ice formed at the bottom of a body of water before it forms on the surface.</cd> -- <col>Ground ivy</col>. <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <cd>A trailing plant; alehoof. See <er>Gill</er>.</cd> -- <col>Ground joist</col>, <cd>a joist for a basement or ground floor; a. sleeper.</cd> -- <col>Ground lark</col> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld>, <cd>the European pipit. See <er>Pipit</er>.</cd> -- <col>Ground laurel</col> <fld>(Bot.)</fld>. <cd>See <er>Trailing arbutus</er>, under <er>Arbutus</er>.</cd> -- <col>Ground line</col> <fld>(Descriptive Geom.)</fld>, <cd>the line of intersection of the horizontal and vertical planes of projection.</cd> -- <col>Ground liverwort</col> <fld>(Bot.)</fld>, <cd>a flowerless plant with a broad flat forking thallus and the fruit raised on peduncled and radiated receptacles (<spn>Marchantia polymorpha</spn>).</cd> -- <col>Ground mail</col>, <cd>in Scotland, the fee paid for interment in a churchyard.</cd> -- <col>Ground mass</col> <fld>(Geol.)</fld>, <cd>the fine-grained or glassy base of a rock, in which distinct crystals of its constituents are embedded.</cd> -- <col>Ground parrakeet</col> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld>, <cd>one of several Australian parrakeets, of the genera <spn>Callipsittacus</spn> and <spn>Geopsittacus</spn>, which live mainly upon the ground.</cd> -- <col>Ground pearl</col> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld>, <cd>an insect of the family <spn>Coccid\'91</spn> (<spn>Margarodes formicarum</spn>), found in ants' nests in the Bahamas, and having a shelly covering. They are strung like beads, and made into necklaces by the natives.</cd> -- <col>Ground pig</col> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld>, <cd>a large, burrowing, African rodent (<spn>Aulacodus Swinderianus</spn>) about two feet long, allied to the porcupines but with harsh, bristly hair, and no spines; -- called also <altname>ground rat</altname>.</cd> -- <col>Ground pigeon</col> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld>, <cd>one of numerous species of pigeons which live largely upon the ground, as the tooth-billed pigeon (<spn>Didunculus strigirostris</spn>), of the Samoan Islands, and the crowned pigeon, or goura. See <er>Goura</er>, and <er>Ground dove</er> (<it>above</it>).</cd> -- <col>Ground pine</col>. <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <cd>A blue-flowered herb of the genus <spn>Ajuga</spn> (<spn>A. Cham\'91pitys</spn>), formerly included in the genus <spn>Teucrium</spn> or germander, and named from its resinous smell. Sir L. Hill.</cd> <sd>(b)</sd> <cd>A long, creeping, evergreen plant of the genus <spn>Lycopodium</spn> (<spn>L. clavatum</spn>); -- called also <altname>club moss</altname>.</cd> <sd>(c)</sd> <cd>A tree-shaped evergreen plant about eight inches in height, of the same genus (<spn>L. dendroideum</spn>) found in moist, dark woods in the northern part of the United States. Gray.</cd> -- <col>Ground plan</col> <fld>(Arch.)</fld>, <cd>a plan of the ground floor of any building, or of any floor, as distinguished from an elevation or perpendicular section.</cd> -- <col>Ground plane</col>, <cd>the horizontal plane of projection in perspective drawing.</cd> -- <col>Ground plate</col>. <sd>(a)</sd> <fld>(Arch.)</fld> <cd>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.</cd> <sd>(b)</sd> <fld>(Railroads)</fld> <cd>A bed plate for sleepers or ties; a mudsill.</cd> <sd>(c)</sd> <fld>(Teleg.)</fld> <cd>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.</cd> -- <col>Ground plot</col>, <cd>the ground upon which any structure is erected; hence, any basis or foundation; also, a ground plan.</cd> -- <col>Ground plum</col> <fld>(Bot.)</fld>, <cd>a leguminous plant (<spn>Astragalus caryocarpus</spn>) occurring from the Saskatchewan to Texas, and having a succulent plum-shaped pod.</cd> -- <col>Ground rat</col>. <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <cd>See <er>Ground pig</er> (<it>above</it>).</cd> -- <col>Ground rent</col>, <cd>rent paid for the privilege of building on another man's land.</cd> -- <col>Ground robin</col>. <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <cd>See <er>Chewink</er>.</cd> -- <col>Ground room</col>, <cd>a room on the ground floor; a lower room. Tatler.</cd> -- <col>Ground sea</col>, <cd>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 <altname>rollers</altname>, and in Jamaica, <altname>the North sea</altname>.</cd> -- <col>Ground sill</col>. <cd>See <er>Ground plate</er> (<it>a</it>) (<it>above</it>).</cd> -- <col>Ground snake</col> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld>, <cd>a small burrowing American snake (<spn>Celuta am\'d2na</spn>). It is salmon colored, and has a blunt tail.</cd> -- <col>Ground squirrel</col>. <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <cd>One of numerous species of burrowing rodents of the genera <spn>Tamias</spn> and <spn>Spermophilus</spn>, 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 <er>Chipmunk</er>, and <er>Gopher</er>.</cd> <sd>(b)</sd> <cd>Any species of the African genus <spn>Xerus</spn>, allied to <spn>Tamias</spn>.</cd> -- <col>Ground story</col>. <cd>Same as <cref>Ground floor</cref> (<it>above</it>).</cd> -- <col>Ground substance</col> <fld>(Anat.)</fld>, <cd>the intercellular substance, or matrix, of tissues.</cd> -- <col>Ground swell</col>. <sd>(a)</sd> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <cd>The plant groundsel. [Obs.] Holland.</cd> <sd>(b)</sd> <cd>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.</cd> -- <col>Ground table</col>. <fld>(Arch.)</fld> <cd>See Earth table, under Earth.</cd> -- <col>Ground tackle</col> <fld>(Naut.)</fld>, <cd>the tackle necessary to secure a vessel at anchor. Totten.</cd> -- <col>Ground thrush</col> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld>, <cd>one of numerous species of bright-colored Oriental birds of the family <spn>Pittid\'91</spn>. See <er>Pitta</er>.</cd> -- <col>Ground tier</col>. <sd>(a)</sd> <cd>The lowest tier of water casks in a vessel's hold. Totten.</cd> <sd>(b)</sd> <cd>The lowest line of articles of any kind stowed in a vessel's hold.</cd> <sd>(c)</sd> <cd>The lowest range of boxes in a theater.</cd> -- <col>Ground timbers</col> <fld>(Shipbuilding)</fld> <cd>the timbers which lie on the keel and are bolted to the keelson; floor timbers. Knight.</cd> -- <col>Ground tit</col>. <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <cd>See <er>Ground wren</er> (<it>below</it>).</cd> -- <col>Ground wheel</col>, <cd>that wheel of a harvester, mowing machine, etc., which, rolling on the ground, drives the mechanism.</cd> -- <col>Ground wren</col> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld>, <cd>a small California bird (<spn>Cham\'91a fasciata</spn>) allied to the wrens and titmice. It inhibits the arid plains. Called also <altname>gronnd tit</altname>, and wren lit.</cd> -- <mcol><col>To bite the ground</col>, <col>To break ground</col></mcol>. <cd>See under <er>Bite</er>, <er>Break</er>.</cd> -- <mcol><col>To come to the ground</col>, <col>To fall to the ground</col></mcol>, <cd>to come to nothing; to fail; to miscarry.</cd> -- <col>To gain ground</col>. <sd>(a)</sd> <cd>To advance; to proceed forward in confict; as, an army in battle <ex>gains ground</ex>.</cd> <sd>(b)</sd> <cd>To obtain an advantage; to have some success; as, the army gains ground on the enemy.</cd> <sd>(c)</sd> <cd>To gain credit; to become more prosperous or influential.</cd> -- <mcol><col>To get</col>, &or; <col>To gather</col>, <col>ground</col></mcol>, <cd>to gain ground. [R.] "Evening mist . . . gathers ground fast." Milton.</cd>

<blockquote>There is no way for duty to prevail, and get ground of them, but by bidding higher. South.</blockquote>

-- <col>To give ground</col>, <cd>to recede; to yield advantage.</cd>

<blockquote>These nine . . . began to give me ground. Shak.</blockquote>

--<col>To lose ground</col>, <cd>to retire; to retreat; to withdraw from the position taken; hence, to lose advantage; to lose credit or reputation; to decline.</cd> -- <col>To stand one's ground</col>, <cd>to stand firm; to resist attack or encroachment. Atterbury.</cd> -- <col>To take the ground</col> <cd>to touch bottom or become stranded; -- said of a ship.</cd></cs>

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