grounding

The process of connecting a circuit or system to an electrical ground to carry current safely away in the event of an electrical surge or an internal fault that connects a high voltage source to the exterior of the device. Grounding also is used to complete an electrical circuit from an electrical shield, thereby carrying electromagnetic interference (EMI) away from a wire or cable. The shield connects to a ground wire, or drain wire, that connect to a ground rod or some other conducting rod or pipe that connects to the ground. See also current, EMI, and ground.