preposition
- beneath and covered by: under a table; under a tree.
- below the surface of: under water; under the skin.
- at a point or position lower or further down than: He was hit just under his eye.
- in the position or state of bearing, supporting, sustaining, enduring, etc.: to sink under a heavy load.
- beneath the heading or within the category of: Classify the books under “Fiction” and “General.”
- as designated, indicated, or represented by: to register under a new name.
- below in degree, amount, etc.; less than: purchased under cost.
- below in rank; of less dignity, importance, or the like: A corporal is under a sergeant.
- subject to the authority, direction, or supervision of: a bureau functioning under the prime minister.
- subject to the instruction or advice of: to study the violin under Heifetz.
- subject to the influence, condition, force, etc., of: under these circumstances; born under the sign of Taurus.
- protected, controlled, or watched by: under guard.
- authorized, warranted, or attested by: under one’s hand or seal.
- in accordance with: under the provisions of the law.
- during the rule, administration, or government of: new laws passed under President Reagan.
- in the state or process of: under repair; a matter under consideration.
- Nautical. powered by the means indicated: under sail; under steam.
adverb
- below or beneath something: Go over the fence, not under.
- beneath the surface.
- in a lower place.
- in a lower degree, amount, etc.: selling blouses for $25 and under.
- in a subordinate position or condition.
- in or into subjection or submission.
adjective
- beneath or on the underside: the under threads of the embroidery.
- lower in position.
- lower in degree, amount, etc.
- lower in rank or condition.
- subject to the control, effect, etc., as of a person, drug, or force: The hypnotist had her subject under at once. The patient was under as soon as he breathed the anesthetic.
Verb Phrases
- go under,
- to give in; succumb; yield: She tried desperately to fight off her drowsiness, but felt herself going under.
- to fail in business: After 20 years on the same corner they finally went under.
Idioms
- under wraps. wrap(def 14).
- a prefixal use of under, as to indicate place or situation below or beneath (underbrush; undertow); lower in grade or dignity (undersheriff; understudy); of lesser degree, extent, or amount (undersized); or insufficiency (underfeed).
preposition
- directly below; on, to, or beneath the underside or base ofunder one’s feet
- less thanunder forty years
- lower in rank thanunder a corporal
- subject to the supervision, jurisdiction, control, or influence of
- subject to (conditions); in (certain circumstances)
- within a classification ofa book under theology
- known byunder an assumed name
- planted witha field under corn
- powered byunder sail
- astrology during the period that the sun is in (a sign of the zodiac)born under Aries
adverb
- below; to a position underneath something
prefix
- below or beneathunderarm; underground
- of lesser importance or lower rankundersecretary
- to a lesser degree than is proper; insufficient or insufficientlyundercharge; underemployed
- indicating secrecy or deceptionunderhand
prep., adv.Old English under, from Proto-Germanic *under- (cf. Old Frisian under, Dutch onder, Old High German untar, German unter, Old Norse undir, Gothic undar), from PIE *ndhero- “lower” (cf. Sanskrit adhah “below;” Avestan athara- “lower;” Latin infernus “lower,” infra “below”). Notion of “subordination” was present in Old English Also used in Old English as a preposition meaning “between, among,” as still in under these circumstances, etc. (though this may be an entirely separate root; see understand). Productive as a prefix in Old English, as in German and Scandinavian. Under the table is from 1921 in the sense of “very drunk,” 1940s in sense of “illegal.” To get something under (one’s) belt is from 1954; to keep something under (one’s) hat “secret” is from 1885; to have something under (one’s) nose “in plain sight” is from 1540s; to speak under (one’s) breath “in a low voice” is attested from 1832. To be under (someone’s) thumb “entirely controlled” is recorded from 1754. In addition to the idioms beginning with under
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