The definitions used in this glossary of terminology either have been provided by the authors of the articles, or have been extracted wholly or in part, or paraphrased from the following sources: The American Medical Association Encyclopedia of Medicine, Charles B. Clayman, MD, Medical Editor, Random House, New York, 1989; Biotechnology from A to Z, 2d Edition, William Bains, Oxford University Press, New York, New York, 2002; A Dictionary of Genetics, 6th Edition, Robert C. King and William D. Stansfield, Oxford University Press, New York, New York, 2002; Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 29th and 30th Editions, W. B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, 2000, 2003; Genes VII, Benjamin Lewin, Oxford University Press, New York, New York, 2000; The Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders, Volumes I and II, Stacey L. Blachford, Ed., Thomson Learning, New York, New York, 2002; The Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Inc., Springfield, Massachusetts, 1997; Molecular Biology of the Cell, 3rd Edition, Bruce Alberts, et al., Garland Publishing, 1994; The Random House Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged Edition, 1966; Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, 1991.

DEFINITION:

ground

1. A path of conduction from an electrical circuit to the earth.

2. To connect an electrical circuit or electrical equipment to the earth.

3. The bottom of a body of water.

4. In the plural, sediment at the bottom of a liquid.

5. A basis for belief, action, or argument.

6. Background.

7. The surface of the earth; also, soil.

8. An area with a particular use.

9. In the plural, the area about and belonging to a building.

10. To bring to or place on the ground.

11. To run or cause to run aground.

12. To provide a reason or justification for.

13. To furnish with a foundation of knowledge.

14. To restrict to the ground; also, to prohibit from some activity.