ground zero

See synonyms for ground zero on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the point on the surface of the earth or water directly below, directly above, or at which an atomic or hydrogen bomb explodes.

  2. (sometimes initial capital letters) the site of the former World Trade Center in New York City, destroyed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

  1. Informal. the very beginning or most elementary level: Some of the students are starting from ground zero.

Origin of ground zero

1
First recorded in 1945–50

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for ground zero

ground zero

noun
  1. a point on the surface of land or water at or directly above or below the centre of a nuclear explosion

  2. a scene of great devastation

  1. (sometimes capitals) the name given to the devastated site of the collapsed World Trade Center towers in New York after September 11 2001

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012