undergrowth

[ uhn-der-grohth ]

noun

1. low-lying vegetation or small trees growing beneath larger trees; underbrush.
2. the condition of being undergrown or undersized.
3. short, fine hair underlying longer, outer wool or fur.

undergrowth

/ ˈʌndəˌɡrəʊθ /

noun

1. small trees, bushes, ferns, etc, growing beneath taller trees in a wood or forest
2. the condition of being undergrown
3. a growth of short fine hairs beneath longer ones; underfur

Word History and Origins

Origin of undergrowth¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; under- + growth

Example Sentences

The forest’s towering Douglas fir, western red cedar and western hemlock trees were full of cubby holes and cavities to hide in, and the undergrowth held plenty of small mammals to eat.

From Science News

I understand that sometimes undergrowth has to be cleared to ensure that the healthiest trees grow big and strong.

From The Daily Beast

But I admit that I first make my way through a fast-growing undergrowth of business.

From The Daily Beast

The advance had to be carefully made, for the country was rough, wooded, and covered with a dense undergrowth of bushes.

From Project Gutenberg

In the dense undergrowth hummed and rustled a hidden life of greater mystery.

From Project Gutenberg

Then all this stopped and on the wet undergrowth again there was a movement like the zig-zag stripe of the tiger's skin.

From Project Gutenberg

I could feel in the distance the shiver of the undergrowth of grass and saplings indicating the way the animals had passed.

From Project Gutenberg

At the end of ten minutes, leaving the undergrowth, David ran across a prairie which ended with the bluff of the river.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• thicket