# grass

/ˈɡɹæs/ (US) · /ɡɹˈɑːs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/grass
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. green ground cover

noun · CEFR A2

a common green plant with narrow leaves that grows in fields, parks, and gardens.

For teachers: any plant of the family Poaceae, typically characterized by narrow leaves and used as ground cover or forage.

- The children ran barefoot across the soft green grass in the park.
- The landscaper recommended a specific blend of seed to ensure the grass remained resilient against the heavy foot traffic of the public square.

### 2. an informer

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Slang

someone who tells the police or authorities about a person's secret or illegal activities.

For teachers: a person who provides information to the authorities about criminal activity, especially a member of a criminal group who betrays their associates.

- The gang suspected there was a grass among them after the police raid.
- In many underworld circles, being labelled a grass is a life-threatening accusation that leads to immediate social and physical exclusion.

### 3. marijuana

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

a slang word for the drug marijuana.

For teachers: a common slang term for cannabis or marijuana.

- He was arrested for possessing a small amount of grass.
- The detective noted that the suspect used various coded terms, including grass, to discuss the distribution of narcotics over the phone.

### 4. the real world

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Slang

the outside world or reality, often used when someone has spent too much time on the internet.

For teachers: the physical world or reality, typically used in the imperative 'touch grass' to suggest someone reconnect with nature after excessive digital engagement.

- You have been arguing on Twitter all day; you really need to go outside and touch grass.
- The phrase 'touch grass' has become a ubiquitous online retort aimed at those whose perspectives seem warped by excessive time spent in digital echo chambers.

### 5. to inform on someone

verb · CEFR C1 · British English · Slang

to tell the police or someone in charge about something bad another person did.

For teachers: to act as an informer or to betray a person by reporting their activities to the authorities.

- He promised not to grass on his friends after they broke the window.
- The witness was hesitant to grass on the local syndicate, fearing the inevitable repercussions of cooperating with the investigation.

Usage: often used with 'on' before the person being reported.

### 6. to cover with turf

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to cover an area of ground with grass.

For teachers: to cover a surface with grass or turf.

- The workers began to grass the area around the new office building.
- The project specifications required the contractor to grass the embankment immediately to prevent soil erosion during the autumn rains.

## Examples

- The children are playing on the green grass.
- The gardener spent the entire afternoon cutting the grass to keep the lawn looking neat.
- Cattle grazed peacefully on the lush grass that covered the rolling hills of the countryside during the height of summer.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.