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.
雙語(yǔ)例句
1. Diplomats meeting in Chile have laid the groundwork for far-reaching environmental regulations.