grounding
Americannoun
-
knowledge of or instruction in the basic principles of a subject.
You'll need a thorough grounding in linguistics to understand the lecture.
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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
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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.
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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.
noun
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.
When the model includes a grounding zone measuring 4 to 6 kilometers across, it predicts a 60% probability that Thwaites will become detached from Mouginot Ridge by the end of the century.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 28, 2026
During World War II, Allied forces took to the skies to bomb many of Germany’s oil refineries, grounding Nazi fighter planes and dealing a devastating blow to Adolf Hitler’s tanks and ground troops in Europe.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026
Notably, Claudia Moloney-MacDonald had an early try chalked off for a knock-on in the grounding.
From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026
Aqel, grounding her food in Jordan while absorbing techniques from around the world.
From Salon ● Sep. 27, 2026
She now knows how to discipline without using a belt, and the value of grounding and time-outs.
From "Class Matters" by The New York Times
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
