ground cover

noun

1

: the small plants on a forest floor except young trees

2

a

: a planting of low plants (such as ivy) that covers the ground in place of turf

b

: a plant adapted for use as ground cover

Examples of ground cover in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Select water-conserving and wind-resistant trees, shrubs and ground covers. —Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 May 2025

Residents must bring the materials to be chipped to the site; crews must be able to pick the materials up as they cannot be cut into smaller pieces; and no poison oak/ivy/sumac, ground cover, cactus or materials with bug infestation will be chipped. —Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2025

This ground cover is versatile and adaptable to many types of soil conditions. —Lauren David, Southern Living, 8 June 2025

This graceful spurge can be planted in mixed containers or grown as a ground cover in full sun or light shade. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ground cover

• discover
• hardcover
• recover
• thereover
• uncover
• hover
• plover
• rediscover
• undercover

Kids Definition

ground cover

noun

: low-growing plants that cover the ground (as in a forest or in place of grass or a lawn)

also : a plant used as ground cover