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

Winter is a stress free time to add hardy trees, shrubs and ground covers to the landscape. —Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 30 Nov. 2024

By replacing a lawn with low-maintenance landscaping options such as native plants, ground covers, or hardscape features, homeowners can reduce the time and effort spent on yard maintenance. —Kobi Bardugo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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