Groundbreaking

Groundbreaking
Ground-breaking ceremony for Hunts Point produce market, New York City, 1962
External images
Groundbreaking ceremony, Los Angeles, California, 1933, featuring a steam shovel

Groundbreaking, also known as cutting, sod-cutting, turning the first sod or a sod-turning ceremony, is a traditional ceremony in many cultures that celebrates the first day of construction for a building or other project. Such ceremonies are often attended by dignitaries such as politicians and businessmen. The actual shovel or spade used during the actual groundbreaking is often a special ceremonial shovel meant to be saved for subsequent display. Commemorative information may be subsequently engraved on the shovel.

Ceremonial groundbreakings often precede the actual start of construction by many months.

In some places, clergy may also provide blessings, particularly if the building is being constructed by a church or religious-affiliated organization.[citation needed]

Other uses

The term groundbreaking, when used as an adjective, may mean being or making something that has never been done or seen or made before; "stylistically innovative works".

See also

External links



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Look at other dictionaries:

  • groundbreaking — UK US /ˈgraʊndˌbreɪkɪŋ/ adjective ► new and likely to have an effect on how things are done in the future: »a groundbreaking discovery »groundbreaking work/research/studies »a groundbreaking agreement/deal …   Financial and business terms

  • groundbreaking — ground break ing n. The ceremonial breaking of the ground to formally begin a construction project. It is sometimes carried out by an official who digs the first spadeful of dirt from the ground, to begin the preparatory excavation work. Syn:… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • groundbreaking — [ground′brāk΄iŋ] adj. 1. designating or of the ceremony of breaking ground, as for a new building 2. pioneering n. a groundbreaking ceremony for a new building groundbreaker n …   English World dictionary

  • groundbreaking — 1907 as a figurative adjective, from expression to break ground, either for planting or for building; see GROUND (Cf. ground) (n.) + BREAK (Cf. break) (v.) …   Etymology dictionary

  • groundbreaking — [adj] pioneering avant garde, cutting edge, innovating, innovative, leadingedge, radical, revolutionary, spearheading, trailblazing, trendsetting; concepts 529,578,589,797 …   New thesaurus

  • groundbreaking — [[t]gra͟ʊndbreɪkɪŋ[/t]] also ground breaking ADJ: usu ADJ n You use groundbreaking to describe things which you think are significant because they provide new and positive ideas, and influence the way people think about things. ...his… …   English dictionary

  • groundbreaking — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun Groundbreaking is used before these nouns: ↑ceremony {{Roman}}II.{{/Roman}} adj. Groundbreaking is used with these nouns: ↑report, ↑research, ↑work …   Collocations dictionary

  • groundbreaking — ground|break|ing [ˈgraundˌbreıkıŋ] adj groundbreaking work involves making new discoveries, using new methods etc ▪ groundbreaking research …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • groundbreaking — adjective Date: 1907 markedly innovative < has written a groundbreaking work > …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • groundbreaking — /grownd bray king/, n. 1. the act or ceremony of breaking ground for a new construction project. adj. 2. of or pertaining to such a ceremony. 3. originating or pioneering a new endeavor, field of inquiry, or the like: Pasteur s groundbreaking… …   Universalium

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