under-
1504
also down under (DOWN) 2 less or younger than stated:
Children of nine or under must be accompanied by an adult.
under- → see WORD FORMATION TABLE
un·der·a·chieve /ˌʌndərəˈtʃiːv/ v [I] euph to perform less
well than one could, especially at one's schoolwork
—chiever n → compare OVERACHIEVER
un·der·act /ˌʌndərˈækt/ v [I;T] sometimes apprec to act (a part
in a play) with very little force → opposite OVERACT
un·der·age /ˌʌndəreɪdʒ/ adj too young for some purpose,
especially to vote, buy alcohol, or hold a driving LICENCE →
opposite OVERAGE
un·der·arm¹ /ˈʌndərɑːm||-ɑːrm/ also underhand adj, adv
(in sport) with the arm not moving above the shoulder: He
bowled underarm. | an underarm throw → opposite OVERARM
underarm² adj [A] euph of or for the ARMPIT: underarm
deodorants
un·der·bel·ly /ˈʌndəˌbeli||-ər-/, n [(the)S(of)] especially lit or pomp
the weak or undefended part of a place, a plan etc
un·der·brush /ˈʌndəbrʌʃ||-ər-/ n [U] especially AmE thick
UNDERGROWTH in a forest
un·der·cap·i·tal·ize also -ise BrE /ˌʌndəkæpɪtl-aɪz||-dər-/
v [T often pass.] to supply (a business) with too little money
for it to operate profitably
un·der·car·riage /ˈʌndəkærɪdʒ||-ər-/ n an aircraft's wheels
and wheel supports → see picture at AIRCRAFT
und·er·charge /ˌʌndəˈtʃɑːdʒ||ˌʌndərˈtʃɑːrdʒ/ v [(for);T(by)]
to charge (someone) too little or less than the correct price:
They undercharged me by 60 pence. → opposite OVERCHARGE
un·der·class /ˈʌndəklɑːs||-dærklæs/ n a social class of peo-
ple seen as being outside the society in which they live,
especially because they have little chance of training or
employment, little money, or no regular way of living
un·der·class·man /ˈʌndəklɑːsmən||-dærklæs-/, -woman
/ˌwʊmən/ fem — n pl. -men /mən/ AmE a student in the first
two years of a school or college, i.e. a FRESHMAN or SOPHO-
MORE: Underclassmen are not allowed locker privileges at the
gym. → compare UPPERCLASSMAN
un·der·clothes /ˈʌndəkloʊðz, ˈ-kloʊz||-dər-/ also
un·der·cloth·ing /ˈʌndəˌkloʊðɪŋ||-dər-/ n [P] rather fml for
UNDERWEAR
un·der·coat /ˈʌndəkəʊt||-dər-/ n [C;U] a covering of paint
put onto a surface as a base for a top covering of paint →
compare TOPCOAT
un·der·cov·er /ˌʌndəˈkʌvər||-dər-/ adj acting or done
secretly, not publicly, especially as a SPY or for gain: an
undercover agent | undercover payments
un·der·cur·rent /ˈʌndəˌkʌrənt||-dərˌkɜːr-/ n 1 a hidden
current of water beneath the surface 2 [(of)] a hidden ten-
dency in feelings, opinions etc, especially when this is
different from what appears to be happening: an undercur-
rent of discontent
un·der·cut /ˌʌndəˈkʌt||-ər-/ v -cut, present participle -cutting
[T] to sell goods or services more cheaply than (a competi-
tor)
un·der·de·vel·oped coun·try /ˌʌndədɪveləpt ˈkʌntri||
-dər-/ n a country that is poor and where there is not much
modern industry; a DEVELOPING COUNTRY
un·der·dog /ˈʌndədɒg||ʌndərdɔːg/ n 1 a weaker person,
country etc, that is always treated badly by others 2 a
person, team etc, that is expected to lose in a competition
with another. British people are often thought to support
the underdog in a competition and to want them to win: In
their football match with Brazil, Switzerland are the under-
dogs.
un·der·done /ˌʌndəˈdʌn||-ər-/ adj not completely cooked,
especially (of meat) still red → opposite OVERDONE
un·der·dressed /ˌʌndəˈdrest||-ər-/ adj wearing clothes
which are less formal than what is considered correct for a
particular occasion: I felt underdressed at Bill's leaving party,
standing there in my jeans and rugby shirt in a roomful of
men wearing suits and ties. → compare OVERDRESS
un·der·es·ti·mate¹ /ˌʌndərestɪmeɪt/ v 1 [I;T] to guess too
low a value for (an amount): We underestimated the cost of
materials, and ended up taking a loss. 2 [T] to have too low
an opinion of: Don't underestimate him/his abilities. →
opposite OVERESTIMATE
un·der·es·ti·mate² /ˌʌndərestɪmət/ n an ESTIMATE which
is too small
un·der·ex·pose /ˌʌndərɪkˈspəʊz/ v [T] to give too little
light to (a film or photograph) → opposite OVEREXPOSE
un·der·felt /ˈʌndəfelt||-ər-/ BrE || rug pad AmE — n [U] soft
rough material placed between a CARPET and the floor
un·der·floor /ˌʌndəˈflɔːr||-ər-/ adj (especially of heating
systems) laid beneath the surface of the floor: underfloor
heating
un·der·foot /ˌʌndəˈfʊt||-ər-/ adv 1 below one's feet; for
walking on: The ground was stony underfoot. 2 under the
foot, especially against the ground: Some of the children got
trampled underfoot as the crowd fled in panic. 3 in the way,
so as to be annoying: The children are always getting under-
foot.
un·der·fund /ˌʌndəˈfʌnd||-ər-/ v [T] to supply less than
enough money for: The childcare programme has been con-
tinuously underfunded. —ing n [U]
un·der·gar·ment /ˈʌndəɡɑːmənt||ˈʌndərˌɡɑːr-/ n fml or old-
fash a piece of UNDERWEAR
un·der·go /ˌʌndəˈɡəʊ||-dər-/ v -went /ˈwent/,· -gone
/ˈɡɒn||ˈɡɔːn/ [T] to experience (especially something
unpleasant, unwelcome, or difficult): She's undergoing treat-
ment at the hospital. | The company has undergone some
major changes in the last five years.
un·der·grad·u·ate /ˌʌndəˈɡrædʒuət||-ər-/ also
un·der·grad /ˈʌndəɡræd||-ər-/ infml— n a student who is
doing a university course for a BACHELOR'S DEGREE → com-
pare GRADUATE
un·der·ground¹ /ˌʌndəɡraʊnd||-ər-/ adv 1 under the
Earth's surface: The nuclear waste was buried deep under-
ground. 2 in secret; in or into a secret place, hidden from
public view: The news has been passed on underground, but
hasn't appeared in the newspapers. | The terrorists have had
to go underground (=hide in a secret place).
un·der·ground² /ˌʌndəɡraʊnd||-ər-/ adj 1 below the sur-
face of the Earth: an underground passage 2 a) represent-
ing a view which is not generally accepted, especially in art,
literature etc: underground newspapers b) operating
secretly and often illegally, especially in opposition to an
established political system: an underground group of anti-
government guerrillas
underground³ n 1 [(the)S] also tube BrE || subway AmE— (often
cap.) a railway system in which the trains run in tube
underground, especially (in Britain) the one in London: We
went on the Underground/by underground. → compare
METRO 2 [the+S+sing./pl. v] a) (especially in the 1960s and
1970s) a loose group of people in society opposed to
accepted ideas in art, politics etc b) a group working in
secret to fight or oppose the rulers of a country
Underground Railroad, the a group of people in the US
who illegally helped SLAVES to become free by helping them
to escape to the northern US and Canada, in the period
before the CIVIL WAR. One of its best-known members was
Harriet TUBMAN.
un·der·growth /ˈʌndəɡrəʊθ||-dər-/ n [U] bushes, small
trees, and other plants growing around and under trees: I
could hear an animal scuttling about in the undergrowth.
un·der·hand¹ /ˌʌndəˈhænd||-ər-/ adj, adv UNDERARM
underhand² also un·der·hand·ed /ˌʌndəˈhændɪd||-ər-/
adj dishonest, especially secretly: He acquired the money in
most underhand manner/by underhand methods
—handedly adv —handedness n [U]
un·der·lay /ˈʌndəleɪ||-ər-/ n [C;U] (a piece of) material laid
under a CARPET especially to preserve the quality of the
carpet and to keep heat in: foam underlay
un·der·lie /ˌʌndəˈlaɪ||-ər-/ v -lay /ˈleɪ/, -lain /ˈleɪn/ [T] to be
a hidden cause or meaning of: I think a lack of confidence
underlies his aggressive manner. | The underlying message of
the report was quite optimistic.
un·der·line /ˌʌndəˈlaɪn||-ər-/ also underscore v [T] 1 to
draw a line under (a word), especially to show its impor-
tance or draw attention to it 2 to give force to (an idea