groove /ɡruːv/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Dutch ; Origin: groeve ]
1 . a thin line cut into a hard surface:
The bolt slid easily into the groove.
a shallow groove cut into the cliff
2 . be stuck in a groove to do something in the same way for a long time so that it becomes boring:
Our product range was stuck in a groove.
3 . informal the beat of a piece of popular music:
a hypnotic dub groove
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THESAURUS
■ on the ground/on the surface of something
▪ line a long thin mark on a piece of paper, the ground, or another surface:
The teacher put a red line through the first sentence.
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If the ball goes over the line, it’s out of play.
▪ groove a thin line that has been cut into a surface:
Deep grooves had been cut into the stone to channel the water.
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Lyle ran his fingernail along the groove in the table.
▪ rut a deep line in the ground which has been made by the wheels of vehicles:
The deep ruts made by the trucks were full of water.
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The tractor’s wheels caught a rut in the field and jolted him.
▪ crease/wrinkle a line on clothes, material, or paper where it has been folded or crushed:
She was trying to smooth out the creases in her dress.
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She had wrinkles in her skirt where she had sat.