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Spadework vs Groundwork - What's the difference?

spadework | groundwork |

As nouns the difference between spadework and groundwork

is that spadework is work done by digging with a spade while groundwork is the foundation; the basic or fundamental parts that support or allow for the rest.

spadework

English

Noun

(-)
  • Work done by digging with a spade.
  • (figuratively) Work done in preparation for something else.
  • * There's a lot of spadework to be done before the scheme can be implemented.
  • * {{quote-book
    • , year=1960 , author= , title=(Jeeves in the Offing) , section=chapter VIII , passage=Removing a portion of chair which had got entangled in my back hair, I said with a candour that became me well: “I was looking for a mouse.” If she had replied, “Ah, yes, indeed. I understand now. A mouse, to be sure. Quite,” everything would have been nice and smooth, but she didn't. “A mouse?” she said. “What do you mean?” Well, of course, if she didn't know what a mouse was, there was evidently a good deal of tedious spadework before us, and one would scarcely have known where to start.}}

    Synonyms

    * (work done by digging with a spade ): digging * (work done in preparation ): prep, prep work, preparatory work

    groundwork

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The 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.

    See also

    * legwork