B2nounenvironmentnature
US/ˈɡraʊnd.wɔː.tər/
UK/ˈɡraʊnd.wɔː.tə/
water that is stored under the ground in soil and rock, often used for drinking and farming
In context
Many villages in the region depend on groundwater for drinking and farming.
Fertilizers from the fields can seep into the groundwater and make it unsafe.
Because farmers pump too much groundwater, the water table has fallen by ten meters.
Words that go with groundwater
noun + noun
- groundwater pollutionGroundwater pollution is hard to clean up once it starts.
- groundwater levelThe groundwater level drops sharply every summer.
verb + noun
- contaminate the groundwaterLeaking tanks can contaminate the groundwater for years.
- pump groundwaterFarmers pump groundwater to irrigate their crops in the dry season.
- deplete groundwaterHeavy irrigation can quickly deplete groundwater reserves.
verb + preposition
- depend on groundwaterHalf of the city depends on groundwater for its supply.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
underground waterCorrect: groundwater