UNDERGROUND Definition & Meaning

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underground

[ adverb uhn-der-ground; adjective noun verb uhn-der-ground ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adverb

beneath the surface of the ground: ground:
traveling underground by subway.
in concealment or secrecy; not openly:
subversion carried on underground.

adjective

existing, situated, operating, or taking place beneath the surface of the ground. ground.
used, or for use, underground.
hidden or secret; not open:
underground political activities.
published or produced by political or social radicals or nonconformists:
an underground newspaper.
avant-garde; experimental:
an underground movie.
critical of or attacking the established society or system:
underground opinion.
of or for nonconformists; unusual:
an underground vegetarian restaurant.

noun

the place or region beneath the surface of the ground. ground.
an underground space or passage.
a secret organization fighting the established government or occupation forces:
He fought in the French underground during the Nazi occupation of France.
(often initial capital letter) a movement or group existing outside the establishment and usually reflecting unorthodox, avant-garde, or radical views.
Chiefly British. a subway system.

verb (used with object)

to place beneath the surface of the ground: ground:
to underground utility lines.

underground

adjective

occurring, situated, or used below ground level
an underground tunnel
an underground explosion
secret; hidden
underground activities

adverb

going below ground level
the tunnel led underground
into hiding or secrecy
the group was driven underground

noun

a space or region below ground level
1. a movement dedicated to overthrowing a government or occupation forces, as in the European countries occupied by the German army in World War II
2. ( as modifier )
  an underground group
the underground
an electric passenger railway operated in underground tunnels US and Canadian equivalentsubway
usually preceded by the
1. any avant-garde, experimental, or subversive movement in popular art, films, music, etc
2. ( as modifier )
  underground music
  the underground press

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of underground¹

First recorded in 1565–75; under- + ground ¹

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Since opening at the beginning of March, the bar has hosted shows for a wide range of genres and carries the torch for Los Angeles underground music.

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"I can't understand why someone would want to move forward with the pylons when the community would be willing to work with them to put the cables underground," he said.

From

Spiriting information to Ursula, Jen writes a propaganda rag to cover her tracks as she simultaneously writes an underground paper as a means of resistance.

From

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which delivers water for 19 million people in six counties, has a record amount of water banked in reservoirs and underground storage areas.

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The Israeli military said troops carrying out operations to expand the "security perimeter" in northern and central Gaza had dismantled a 1km-long underground tunnel belonging to Hamas and eliminated more than 50 "terrorists".

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