ground zero :

ground zero

“Ground zero” refers to the point at the center of the impact of a nuclear bomb, so it is improper to talk about “building from ground zero” as if it were a place of new beginnings. You can start from scratch, or begin at zero, but if you’re at ground zero, you’re at the end.The metaphorical extension of this term to the site of the destruction of the World Trade Center towers is, however, perfectly legitimate; but because in this case it is a place name it needs to be capitalized: “Ground Zero.”

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Definitions
  ground zero
  • n  the target of a projectile (as a bomb or missile)
  • n  the site of the World Trade Center before it was destroyed
  • n  the point of detonation (or above or below) of a nuclear weapon
News & Articles
  ground zero
  • Abilene church choir to sing in church chapel near Ground Zero in NYC
    It's the church next to Ground Zero that withstood the 9/11 attack and served as a place for first responders to gather.
    June 14, 2013 - Abilene Reporter-News
  • Cops Launch Early-Morning Raid on Ford Crack Video "Ground Zero"
    Early this morning, Toronto cops undertook a huge sweep of the neighborhood the Toronto Star calls "ground zero for the Rob Ford crack video scandal ," taking several people into custody at the infamous Dixon Road apartments and visiting the home of one of the men photographed standing with Ford in the infamous "crack house" picture. Read more...        
    June 13, 2013 - Gawker
  • Cops Heard About Mayor's Crack Video on Wiretap Weeks Before Story Hit
    Toronto Mayor Rob Ford's cable is out , poor guy, which is why he hadn't heard that "ground zero" for his crack cocaine scandal was the site of a huge police raid this morning. He probably also missed that Toronto cops were aware of his crack video weeks before Gawker broke the story . Read more...        
    June 13, 2013 - Gawker