Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

grounding

American  
[groun-ding] / ˈgraʊn dɪŋ /

noun

  1. knowledge of or instruction in the basic principles of a subject.

    You'll need a thorough grounding in linguistics to understand the lecture.

  2. Aeronautics. the act of restricting an aircraft to the ground because of bad weather, the unsatisfactory condition of the aircraft, etc..

    The grounding of the aircraft due to fog meant the passengers were stranded.


adjective

  1. giving or relating to a feeling of being mentally or emotionally balanced due to a peaceful, practical, or realistic outlook.

    Her down-to-earth point of view made her a grounding presence in their lives.

  2. Electricity. being or relating to a conducting connection between an electric circuit or equipment and the earth or some other conducting body.

    Check that all grounding wires are intact before beginning further repairs.

grounding British  
/ ˈɡraʊndɪŋ /

noun

  1. a basic knowledge of or training in a subject

"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

Etymology

Origin of grounding

First recorded in 1640–50; ground 1 ( def. ) + -ing 1 ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

While religion provides answers, astronomy offers another way to search for them, grounding me like a kind of cosmic anchor.

From The Wall Street Journal

President Ferdinand Marcos also said that grounding planes due to a shortage of fuel is a "distinct possibility" after some of the country's airlines were told that they cannot refuel their jets abroad.

From BBC

Alloway praises the Philadelphia-born Pedretti for nailing Cherry’s comedic moments yet also grounding the character in a traumatic backstory — a balancing act the director knew she was capable of after watching “Hill House.”

From Los Angeles Times

It rolled across Gwanghwamun Square, lingering - heavy and deliberate - grounding the spectacle in something that felt far older.

From BBC

This same cohort witnessed and participated in the growing power of corporations in the 1980s and beyond, so “Mad Men” provided a grounding context on the power of brands built around individual stories.

From The Wall Street Journal