ground zero

American  

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.

3. Informal.  the very beginning or most elementary level.

   Some of the students are starting from ground zero.

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ground zero British  

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

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

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Etymology

Origin of ground zero

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

Elizabeth Taylor and Burton were ground zero of what we see today.

From Los Angeles Times

Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness has described Black River as "ground zero" after sharing footage of the destruction there.

From BBC

Academics, educators and critics alike refer to Oklahoma as ground zero for pushing education to the right.

From Salon

For Elon Musk, ground zero of the AI arms race is a 114-acre tract of grass and swamp on the state line of Tennessee and Mississippi.

From The Wall Street Journal

MEMPHIS—For Elon Musk, ground zero of the artificial intelligence arms race is a 114-acre tract of grass and swamp on the state line of Tennessee and Mississippi.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• ambition
• aspiration
• intention
• purpose
• target