English Explanatory Dictionary

underground

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Below the ground; below the surface of the Earth.
  2. Hidden, furtive, secretive.
  3. Of or relating to an art forms (such as music) or subculture that is outside the mainstream, especially one that is unofficial and hidden from the authorities.
adv
  1. Below the ground.
  2. Secretly.
noun
  1. The regions beneath the surface of the earth, both natural (eg. caves) and man-made (eg. mines).
  2. Synonym of subway: a railway that is under the ground.
  3. A movement or organization of people who resist political convention.
  4. A movement or organization of people who resist artistic convention.
verb
  1. To route electricity distribution cables underground.
verb
  1. simple past and past participle of undergrind
name
  1. The London Underground.

Pronunciation

/ˌʌn.dəˈɡɹaʊnd/ /ˈʌn.də.ɡɹaʊnd/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-underground.wav /ˌʌn.dəɹˈɡɹaʊnd/ /ˈʌn.dəɹ.ɡɹaʊnd/

Word forms

underground more underground most underground under ground under-ground undergrounds undergrounding undergrounded the Underground

Etymology

From Middle English undergrounde (adverb), equivalent to under + ground or under- + ground. Compare Dutch ondergrond, ondergronds, German Untergrund, Danish undergrunds.

Synonyms

subterranean hypogean covered concealed dark dern hidden invisible inward latent nondisplayed obfuscated obfuscatory obscure obscured occluded occulted private recondite secluded secret secreted silent snug tect unapparent underground undisclosed veiled abstruse behind the scenes catlike backroom stealth clandestine cloak-and-dagger confidential covert deep-laid disguised furtive huggermugger hush-hush inconspicuous incognito low profile lurksome lurky mousy off-the-books on the down-low on the sly secretive slinky sly sneaky stealthy sub rosa surreptitious under-the-table

Antonyms

mainstream

Related words

Overground

Derived words

deep underground military base go underground underground handball underground handpass underground mutton underground people Underground Railroad underground railway Weather Underground

Translations

Armenian: ընդհատակ Bulgarian: нелегална организация Finnish: vastarintaliike French: résistance French: mouvement clandestin French: organisation clandestine Georgian: იატაკქვეშა ორგანიზაცია German: Untergrundorganisation Hebrew: מַחְתֶּרֶת Irish: gluaiseacht faoi choim Italian: resistenza Italian: movimento clandestino Italian: organizzazione clandestina Macedonian: по́дземје Polish: podziemie Polish: ruch oporu Portuguese: resistência Romanian: mișcare clandestină Romanian: organizație clandestină Russian: подпо́лье Spanish: movimiento clandestino Spanish: organización clandestina
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