groundwork
pronunciation
How to pronounce groundwork in British English:
UK [ˈgraʊndwɜ:k]
How to pronounce groundwork in American English:
US [ˈgraʊndwɜrk]
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- Noun:
- the fundamental assumptions from which something is begun or developed or calculated or explained
- lowest support of a structure
- preliminary preparation as a basis or foundation
Word Origin
- groundwork (n.)
- mid-15c., "foundation of a building or wall, solid base on which a structure is built," from ground (n.) + work (n.) in the older sense. Similar formation in Middle Dutch grontwerck, Dutch grondwerk, German grundwerk. Of immaterial things from 1550s.
Example
- 1. Preparing the groundwork with your boss is key .
- 2. This laid the groundwork for a robust democracy .
- 3. Mr santos is laying the groundwork for possible peace talks .
- 4. It laid the groundwork for a response to its economic crisis .
- 5. Without such technical groundwork , the system could be swamped .