aground

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   onto or against the bottom of a body of water, so that a vessel can no longer move freely

   A sudden change in the channel caused the cargo ship to run aground.

2. 2
   adj

   stranded because a vessel is resting on the bottom or shore

   The fishing boat remained aground until the next high tide.

3. 3
   adj

   stuck, ruined, or unable to make further progress

   Without fresh investment, the ambitious construction plan was left aground.

From Middle English agrounde or on grounde, literally on the ground, later analyzed as a- + ground. Its nautical sense describes a vessel resting on the bed or shore; the figurative sense extends that physical inability to move.

Topics