under-
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under-
pref.
1. Beneath or below in position: underground.
2. Inferior or subordinate in rank or importance: undersecretary.
3. Less in degree, rate, or quantity than normal or proper: undersized.
[Middle English, from Old English; see n̥dher- in Indo-European roots.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
under-
prefix
1. below or beneath: underarm; underground.
2. of lesser importance or lower rank: undersecretary.
3. to a lesser degree than is proper; insufficient or insufficiently: undercharge; underemployed.
4. indicating secrecy or deception: underhand.
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
un•der
(ˈʌn dər)prep.
1. beneath and covered by: under a tree.
2. below the surface of: under water.
3. at a point lower than: a bump just under his eye.
4. in the position of sustaining, enduring, etc.: to sink under a heavy load.
5. beneath the cover or disguise of: registered under a pseudonym.
6. beneath the heading of: Classify the books under “Fiction.”
7. below in degree, amount, etc.; less than: purchased under cost.
8. below in rank.
9. subject to the authority or influence of: a bureau under the president.
10. in accordance with: under the provisions of the law.
11. during the administration or reign of: laws passed under President Lincoln.
12. in the state or process of: under construction.
adv. 13. below or beneath something: Go over the fence, not under.
14. beneath the surface.
15. in a lower degree, amount, etc.: shirts for $25 and under.
16. in a subordinate position or condition.
17. go under,
adj. a. to give in; succumb.
b. to fail in business.
18. located beneath or on the underside.
19. lower in position.
20. lower in degree, amount, rank, etc.
21. subject to the control, effect, etc., as of a person, drug, or force: I was under throughout the surgery.
[before 900; Middle English, Old English < Latin inferus located below]
under-
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).
[Middle English; Old English]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Translations
under-
[ˈʌndəʳ] PREFIXCollins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
under-
[ˈʌndər-] prefixCollins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
under-
pref
(in rank) → Unter-; for the under-twelves/-eighteens/-forties → für Kinder unter zwölf/Jugendliche unter achtzehn/Leute unter vierzig
(= insufficiently) → zu wenig, ungenügend
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
under
(ˈandə) preposition1. in or to a position lower than, or covered by. Your pencil is under the chair; Strange plants grow under the sea.
2. less than, or lower in rank than. Children under five should not cross the street alone; You can do the job in under an hour.
3. subject to the authority of. As a foreman, he has about fifty workers under him.
4. used to express various states. The fort was under attack; The business improved under the new management; The matter is under consideration/discussion.
adverb in or to a lower position, rank etc. The swimmer surfaced and went under again; children aged seven and under.
under-1. beneath, as in underline.
2. too little, as in underpay.
3. lower in rank. the under-manager.
4. less in age than. a nursery for under-fives (= children aged four and under).
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.