The solid part of the earth's surface:
— He dropped the logs on the ground.

synonyms: dry land, earth, land, solid ground, terra firma.

Roget 342: land, earth, ground, dry land, terra firma.    continent, mainland, peninsula, chersonese [Fr.], delta; tongue of land, neck of land; isthmus, oasis; promontory etc. (projection) 250; highland etc. (height) 206.    coast, shore, scar, strand, beach; playa; bank, lea; seaboard, seaside, seabank^†, seacoast, seabeach^†; ironbound coast; loom of the land; derelict; innings; alluvium, alluvion^†; ancon.    riverbank, river bank, levee.    soil, glebe, clay, loam, marl, cledge^†, chalk, gravel, mold, subsoil, clod, clot; rock, crag.    acres; real estate etc. (property) 780; landsman^†.    ... show more

Roget 223: covering, cover; baldachin, baldachino^†, baldaquin^†; canopy, tilt, awning, tent, marquee, tente d'abri [Fr.], umbrella, parasol, sunshade; veil (shade) 424; shield etc. (defense) 717.    roof, ceiling, thatch, tile; pantile, pentile^†; tiling, slates, slating, leads; barrack [U.S.], plafond, planchment [U.S.], tiling, shed etc. (abode) 189.    top, lid, covercle^†, door, operculum; bulkhead [U.S.].    bandage, plaster, lint, wrapping, dossil^†, finger stall.    coverlet, counterpane, sheet, quilt, tarpaulin, blanket, rug, drugget^†; housing; antimacassar, eiderdown, numdah^†, pillowcase, pillowslip^†; linoleum; saddle cloth, blanket cloth; tidy; tilpah [U.S.], apishamore [U.S.].    integument, tegument; skin, pellicle, fleece, fell, fur, leather, shagreen^†, hide; pelt, peltry^†; cordwain^†; derm^†; robe, buffalo robe [U.S.]; cuticle, scarfskin, epidermis.    clothing etc. 225; mask etc. (concealment) 530.    peel, crust, bark, rind, cortex, husk, shell, coat; eggshell, glume^†.    capsule; sheath, sheathing; pod, cod; casing, case, theca^†; elytron^†; elytrum^†; involucrum [Lat.]; wrapping, wrapper; envelope, vesicle; corn husk, corn shuck [U.S.]; dermatology, conchology; testaceology^†.    inunction^†; incrustation, superimposition, superposition, obduction^†; scale etc. (layer) 204.    [specific coverings] veneer, facing; overlay; plate, silver plate, gold plate, copper plate; engobe^†; ormolu; Sheffield plate; pavement; coating, paint; varnish etc. (resin) 216.1; plating, barrel plating, anointing etc. v.; enamel; epitaxial deposition [Eng.], vapor deposition; ground, whitewash, plaster, spackel, stucco, compo; cerement; ointment etc. (grease) 356.    ... show more

Roget 215: support, ground, foundation, base, basis; terra firma; bearing, fulcrum, bait [U.S.], caudex crib^†; point d'appui [Fr.], pou sto [Gr.], purchase footing, hold, locus standi [Lat.]; landing place, landing stage; stage, platform; block; rest, resting place; groundwork, substratum, riprap, sustentation, subvention; floor etc. (basement) 211.    supporter; aid etc. 707; prop, stand, anvil, fulciment^†; cue rest, jigger; monkey; stay, shore, skid, rib, truss, bandage; sleeper; stirrup, stilts, shoe, sole, heel, splint, lap, bar, rod, boom, sprit^†, outrigger; ratlings^†.    staff, stick, crutch, alpenstock, baton, staddle^†; bourdon^†, cowlstaff^†, lathi^†, mahlstick^†.    post, pillar, shaft, thill^†, column, pilaster; pediment, pedicle; pedestal; plinth, shank, leg, socle^†, zocle^†; buttress, jamb, mullion, abutment; baluster, banister, stanchion; balustrade; headstone; upright; door post, jamb, door jamb.    frame, framework; scaffold, skeleton, beam, rafter, girder, lintel, joist, travis^†, trave^†, corner stone, summer, transom; rung, round, step, sill; angle rafter, hip rafter; cantilever, modillion^†; crown post, king post; vertebra.    columella^†, backbone; keystone; axle, axletree; axis; arch, mainstay.    trunnion, pivot, rowlock^†; peg etc. (pendency) 214^†; tiebeam etc. (fastening) 45; thole pin^†.    board, ledge, shelf, hob, bracket, trevet^†, trivet, arbor, rack; mantel, mantle piece [Fr.], mantleshelf^†; slab, console; counter, dresser; flange, corbel; table, trestle; shoulder; perch; horse; easel, desk; clotheshorse, hatrack; retable; teapoy^†.    seat, throne, dais; divan, musnud^†; chair, bench, form, stool, sofa, settee, stall; arm chair, easy chair, elbow chair, rocking chair; couch, fauteuil [Fr.], woolsack^†, ottoman, settle, squab, bench; aparejo^†, faldstool^†, horn; long chair, long sleeve chair, morris chair; lamba chauki^†, lamba kursi^†; saddle, pannel^†, pillion; side saddle, pack saddle; pommel.    bed, berth, pallet, tester, crib, cot, hammock, shakedown, trucklebed^†, cradle, litter, stretcher, bedstead; four poster, French bed, bunk, kip, palang^†; bedding, bichhona, mattress, paillasse^†; pillow, bolster; mat, rug, cushion.    footstool, hassock; tabouret^†; tripod, monopod.    Atlas, Persides, Atlantes^†, Caryatides, Hercules.    ... show more

Roget 780: property, possession, suum cuique [Lat.], meum et tuum [Lat.].    ownership, proprietorship, lordship; seignority^†; empire etc. (dominion) 737.    interest, stake, estate, right, title, claim, demand, holding; tenure etc. (possession) 777; vested interest, contingent interest, beneficial interest, equitable interest; use, trust, benefit; legal estate, equitable estate; seizin [Law], seisin [Law].    absolute interest, paramount estate, freehold; fee tail, fee simple; estate in fee, estate in tail, estate tail; estate in tail male, estate in tail female, estate in tail general.    limitation, term, lease, settlement, strict settlement, particular estate; estate for life, estate for years, estate pur autre vie [Fr.]; remainder, reversion, expectancy, possibility.    dower, dowry, jointure^†, appanage, inheritance, heritage, patrimony, alimony; legacy etc. (gift) 784; Falcidian law, paternal estate, thirds.    assets, belongings, means, resources, circumstances; wealth etc. 803; money etc. 800; what one is worth, what one will cut up for; estate and effects.    landed property, landed real estate property; realty; land, lands; tenements; hereditaments; corporeal hereditaments, incorporeal hereditaments; acres; ground etc. (earth) 342; acquest^†, messuage, toft^†.    territory, state, kingdom, principality, realm, empire, protectorate, sphere of influence.    manor, honor, domain, demesne; farm, plantation, hacienda; allodium etc. (free) 748^†; fief, fieff^†, feoff^†, feud, zemindary^†, dependency; arado^†, merestead^†, ranch.    free lease-holds, copy lease-holds; folkland^†; chattels real; fixtures, plant, heirloom; easement; right of common, right of user.    personal property, personal estate, personal effects; personalty, chattels, goods, effects, movables; stock, stock in trade; things, traps, rattletraps, paraphernalia; equipage etc. 633.    parcels, appurtenances.    impedimenta; luggage, baggage; bag and baggage; pelf; cargo, lading.    rent roll; income etc. (receipts) 810; maul and wedges [U.S.].    patent, copyright; chose in action; credit etc. 805; debt etc. 806.    ... show more

Dutch: land, vasteland
Polish: krajobraz, okolica, strony, teren

A rational motive for a belief or action:
— The grounds for their declaration.

synonym: reason.

Roget 615: motive, springs of action, wellsprings of action.    reason, ground, call, principle; by end, by purpose; mainspring, primum mobile [Lat.], keystone; the why and the wherefore; pro and con, reason why; secret motive, arriere pensee [Fr.]; intention etc. 620.    inducement, consideration; attraction; loadstone; magnet, magnetism, magnetic force; allectation^†, allective^†; temptation, enticement, agacerie^†, allurement, witchery; bewitchment, bewitchery; charm; spell etc. 993; fascination, blandishment, cajolery; seduction, seducement; honeyed words, voice of the tempter, song of the Sirens forbidden fruit, golden apple.    persuasibility^†, persuasibleness^†; attractability^†; impressibility, susceptibility; softness; persuasiveness, attractiveness; tantalization^†.    influence, prompting, dictate, instance; impulse, impulsion; incitement, incitation; press, instigation; provocation etc. (excitation of feeling) 824; inspiration; persuasion, suasion; encouragement, advocacy; exhortation; advice etc. 695; solicitation etc. (request) 765; lobbyism; pull [Slang].    incentive, stimulus, spur, fillip, whip, goad, ankus^†, rowel, provocative, whet, dram.    bribe, lure; decoy, decoy duck; bait, trail of a red herring; bribery and corruption; sop, sop for Cerberus.    prompter, tempter; seducer, seductor^†; instigator, firebrand, incendiary; Siren, Circe; agent provocateur; lobbyist.    ... show more

Roget 153: cause, origin, source, principle, element; occasioner^†, prime mover, primum mobile [Lat.]; vera causa [Lat.]; author etc. (producer) 164; mainspring; agent; leaven; groundwork, foundation etc. (support) 215.    spring, fountain, well, font; fountainhead, spring head, wellhead; fons et origo [Lat.], genesis; descent etc. (paternity) 166; remote cause; influence.    pivot, hinge, turning point, lever, crux, fulcrum; key; proximate cause, causa causans [Lat.]; straw that breaks the camel's back.    ground; reason, reason why; why and wherefore, rationale, occasion, derivation; final cause etc. (intention) 620; les dessous des cartes [Fr.]; undercurrents.    rudiment.    egg, germ, embryo, bud, root, radix radical, etymon, nucleus, seed, stem, stock, stirps, trunk, tap-root, gemmule^†, radicle, semen, sperm.    nest, cradle, nursery, womb, nidus, birthplace, hotbed.    causality, causation; origination; production etc. 161.    ... show more

Dutch: reden, afweging, beweeggrond, beweegreden, considerans, consideratie, drijfveer, grond, motief, motivatie, overweging, ratio ... show more
Polish: przyczyna, źródło, racja, motyw, pobudka, powód

The loose soft material that makes up a large part of the land surface.

synonym: earth.

Dutch: omgeving, aarde, grond

A relation that provides the foundation for something.

synonyms: basis, footing.

Roget 211: base, basement; plinth, dado, wainscot; baseboard, mopboard^†; bedrock, hardpan [U.S.]; foundation etc. (support) 215; substructure, substratum, ground, earth, pavement, floor, paving, flag, carped, ground floor, deck; footing, ground work, basis; hold, bilge.    bottom, nadir, foot, sole, toe, hoof, keel, root; centerboard.    ... show more

Roget 183: situation, position, locality, locale, status, latitude and longitude; footing, standing, standpoint, post; stage; aspect, attitude, posture, pose.    environment, surroundings (location) 184; circumjacence etc. 227^†.    place, site, station, seat, venue, whereabouts; ground; bearings etc. (direction) 278; spot etc. (limited space) 182.    topography, geography, chorography^†; map etc. 554.    ... show more

Dutch: basis

A position to be won or defended in battle (or as if in battle).

The part of a scene (or picture) that lies behind objects in the foreground:
— He posed her against a background of rolling hills.

synonym: background.

Dutch: achtergrond, background, toneel
Polish: tło

Material in the top layer of the surface of the earth in which plants can grow (especially with reference to its quality or use).

synonyms: land, soil.

Roget 181: region, sphere, ground, soil, area, field, realm, hemisphere, quarter, district, beat, orb, circuit, circle; reservation, pale etc. (limit) 233; compartment, department; clearing.    [political divisions: see] (property) etc. 780 (Government) etc. 737.1 arena, precincts, enceinte, walk, march; patch, plot, parcel, inclosure, close, field, court; enclave, reserve, preserve; street etc. (abode) 189.    clime, climate, zone, meridian, latitude.    biosphere; lithosphere.    ... show more

Dutch: landen, aarde, grond, grondsoort
Polish: ziemia, grunt

A relatively homogeneous percept extending back of the figure on which attention is focused.

A connection between an electrical device and a large conducting body, such as the earth (which is taken to be at zero voltage).

synonym: earth.

Dutch: aarddraad, aarde, aarding, aardleiding, aardverbinding
Polish: uziemienie

art The surface (as a wall or canvas) prepared to take the paint for a painting.

The first or preliminary coat of paint or size applied to a surface.

synonyms: flat coat, primer, primer coat, priming, priming coat, undercoat.

Polish: gruntówka

Fix firmly and stably.

synonym: anchor.

Dutch: funderen, grondvesten

Confine or restrict to the ground.

Place or put on the ground.

Instruct someone in the fundamentals of a subject.

Bring to the ground:
— The storm grounded the ship.

synonyms: run aground, strand.

Dutch: omhooglopen

Hit or reach the ground.

synonym: run aground.

Throw to the ground in order to stop play and avoid being tackled behind the line of scrimmage.

Hit a groundball.

Hit onto the ground.

Cover with a primer; apply a primer to.

synonyms: prime, undercoat.

Roget 537: teach, instruct, educate, edify, school, tutor; cram, prime, coach; enlighten etc. (inform) 527.    inculcate, indoctrinate, inoculate, infuse, instill, infix, ingraft^†, infiltrate; imbue, impregnate, implant; graft, sow the seeds of, disseminate.    given an idea of; put up to, put in the way of; set right.    sharpen the wits, enlarge the mind; give new ideas, open the eyes, bring forward, teach the young idea how to shoot" [Thomson]; improve etc. 658.    expound etc. (interpret) 522; lecture; read a lesson, give a lesson, give a lecture, give a sermon, give a discourse; incept^†; hold forth, preach; sermonize, moralize; point a moral.    train, discipline; bring up, bring up to; form, ground, prepare, qualify; drill, exercise, practice, habituate, familiarize with, nurture, drynurse^†, breed, rear, take in hand; break, break in; tame; preinstruct^†; initiate; inure etc. (habituate) 613.    put to nurse, send to school.    direct, guide; direct attention to etc. (attention) 457; impress upon the mind, impress upon the memory; beat into, beat into the head; convince etc. (belief) 484.    [instructional materials] book, workbook, exercise book.    [unnecessary teaching] preach to the wise, teach one's grandmother to suck eggs, teach granny to suck eggs; preach to the converted.    ... show more

Dutch: gronden

Connect to a ground.

Use as a basis for; found on.

synonyms: base, establish, found.

Roget 215: be supported &c.; lie on, sit on, recline on, lean on, loll on, rest on, stand on, step on, repose on, abut on, bear on, be based on &c.; have at one's back; bestride, bestraddle^†.    support, bear, carry, hold, sustain, shoulder; hold up, back up, bolster up, shore up; uphold, upbear^†; prop; under prop, under pin, under set; riprap; bandage etc. 43.    give support, furnish support, afford support, supply support, lend support, give foundations, furnish foundations, afford foundations, supply foundations, lend foundations; bottom, found, base, ground, imbed, embed.    maintain, keep on foot; aid etc. 707.    ... show more