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"