smallgroundwork
nounUK /ˈsmɔːlˌɡraʊndwɜːk/
US /ˈsmɔːlˌɡraʊndwɝːk/
Small groundwork is the little bit of basic work you do first to get ready for something bigger.
Before building the treehouse, the kids did some small groundwork by clearing the branches.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A modest amount of background research done before a project.
She did small groundwork on the topic before the big meeting.
3. The simple first steps taken to start a new task.
Learning a few words is small groundwork for studying a language.
4. A minor base or support laid down for something larger.
The team laid small groundwork for the garden by marking the soil.