under

 
Pronunciation: /ˈʌndə/

preposition

  • 1extending or directly below: vast stores of gas under the North Sea the streams that ran under the melting glaciers
  • below (something covering or protecting): under several feet of water a hot plate under an insulated lid
  • 2at a lower level than: the room under his study
  • behind (a physical surface): it was written on the new canvas under a gluey coating
  • behind or hidden behind (an appearance): he had a deep sense of fun under his quiet exterior
  • lower in grade or rank than: under him in the hierarchy
  • 3lower than (a specified amount, rate, norm, or age): they averaged just under 2.8 per cent
  • 4controlled, managed, or governed by: the province is now under martial law I was under his spell
  • during the rule of: the coinage standard was reformed under Elizabeth I
  • as a reaction to or undergoing the pressure of (something): the sofa creaked under his weight certain institutions may be under threat
  • as provided for by the rules of; in accordance with: flowers supplied under contract by a local florist
  • used to express grouping or classification: file it under ‘lost’ published under his own name
  • Computing within the environment of (a particular operating system): the program runs under DOS
  • 5undergoing (a process): under construction
  • in a state of: children living under difficult circumstances
  • planted with: fields under wheat

adverb

  • 1extending or directly below something: weaving the body through the crossbars, over and under, over and under
  • 2under water: he was floating for some time but suddenly went under
  • affected by an anaesthetic; unconscious: the operation was quick; she was only under for 15 minutes

Derivatives

undermost

adjective

Origin:

Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch onder and German unter