ground·work /ˈgraʊndˌwɚ/
 基礎,基本工作,基本原理
 Ground·work n. That which forms the foundation or support of anything; the basis; the essential or fundamental part; first principle; as, development of a convenient DNA sequencing technique layed the groundwork for many of the subsequent advances in molecular genetics.
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 groundwork
      n 1: the fundamental assumptions from which something is begun or
           developed or calculated or explained; "the whole
           argument rested on a basis of conjecture" [syn: basis,
            base, foundation, fundament, cornerstone]
      2: lowest support of a structure; "it was built on a base of
         solid rock"; "he stood at the foot of the tower" [syn: foundation,
          base, fundament, foot, substructure, understructure]
      3: preliminary preparation as a basis or foundation; "we are
         prepared today because of groundwork that was done ten
         years ago"