groundwork

plural groundworks · alternative ground-work

1. countableuncountableThe foundation; the basic or fundamental parts that support or allow for the rest.

   The discovery of the laws of electricity laid the groundwork for a century of innovation.

   3 more examples

   This outline programme was compiled by a working party consisting of members from the Regional Planning Office, the civil, mechanical and electrical, and signal engineering departments and the traffic services, on the basis of much groundwork done within each of these departments.

   1961 December, “Planning the London Midland main-line electrification”, in Trains Illustrated, page 720

   Oft-derided, even in its 2002 heyday, no one expected electroclash to last. But, just as sonic heirs such as La Roux or Little Boots capitalise on their groundwork, the old electro guard return with works of real solidity and depth.

   2009 April 24, Tony Naylor, “Emerging victorious”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, archived from the original on 26 Feb 2024

   Caine was pretty rough around the edges, though. I wasn't quite on Scratch's level of thinking outside the box, but it was good groundwork for something the rest of the team could wrap their heads around.

   2026 March 20, Gooseworx, “hjsakldfhl” (19:55 from the start), in The Amazing Digital Circus, episode 8, spoken by Kinger (Sean Chiplock)