groundwater
groundwater — noun
1. water that collects and moves through the tiny gaps between soil particles and c
water that collects and moves through the tiny gaps between soil particles and cracks in rocks beneath the Earth's surface, forming a natural supply that can be taken from wells and springs
Farmers in the valley use groundwater to water their crops during dry weather.
use groundwater for irrigation — typical agricultural collocation
Élise's study found that the local groundwater had been contaminated by chemicals from old factories.
groundwater contaminated by [pollutant] — common environmental pattern
Many coastal towns depend on groundwater as their main source of drinking water.
Soraya showed how rainwater filters through soil and slowly becomes part of the groundwater.
- subsurface water
more technical term used in hydrology and geology; less common in everyday conversation
- underground water
a plainer, less formal alternative that is often used in news reports
- surface water
water found in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs on the Earth's surface
用法筆記
Groundwater is an uncountable noun; do not say 'groundwaters'. To refer to quantities, use phrases such as 'groundwater levels', 'groundwater supplies', or 'groundwater resources'.