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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Use as ground cover or as a bedding or potting plant. Steve Bender, Southern Living, 15 May 2024 In addition, with rising housing costs, these households are moving to less sparsely populated areas along the urban-rural interface, which often has more trees and ground cover serving as fuel for fires. Nives Dolsak and Aseem Prakash, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024 Sure, the deciduous forests change in September, but most of the color in Rainier comes from the shrubs and ground cover that blanket the vast meadows surrounding that famous three-summited mountain amid 26 glaciers. Graham Averill, Outside Online, 16 Sep. 2024 Choosing low-growing perennials is a convenient and effective ground cover, minimizes erosion, and adds foliage and flowers to the area. Lauren David, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ground cover 

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ground cover was in 1900

Dictionary Entries Near ground cover

Cite this Entry

“Ground cover.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ground%20cover. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on ground cover

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!