| the water beneath the surface of the ground, consisting largely of surface water that has seeped down: the source of water in springs and wells. |
| ground water also ground·wa·ter (ground'wô'tər, -wŏt'ər) n. Water beneath the earth's surface, often between saturated soil and rock, that supplies wells and springs. |
Water that seeps through the soil or rocks underground.
Note: Groundwater is a source of drinking and spring water for many communities.
Note: Groundwater can be contaminated by chemical pollutants. (See water pollution.)