undergrowth
Americannoun
-
low-lying vegetation or small trees growing beneath larger trees; underbrush.
-
the condition of being undergrown or undersized.
-
short, fine hair underlying longer, outer wool or fur.
noun
-
small trees, bushes, ferns, etc, growing beneath taller trees in a wood or forest
-
the condition of being undergrown
-
a growth of short fine hairs beneath longer ones; underfur
Etymology
Origin of undergrowth
Explanation
The plants that grow on a forest floor, including shrubs and small trees, are called undergrowth. If you leave a marked hiking trail in the woods, you might have a hard time getting through the undergrowth. You won't find a lot of undergrowth in a North American forest in the winter — most ferns and other plants die back, and many shrubs and trees lose their leaves. In the summertime, however, undergrowth can be thick and dense under the taller, older trees. This noun dates from the 1600s, a combination of under, "beneath or below," and growth, "something that has grown."
Vocabulary lists containing undergrowth
"The Road Not Taken"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Into the Wild
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Wolf Hollow
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Undergrowth level temperature of the tropical forests can be even 4 degrees less than average temperature of the area.
From Science Daily • Jan. 23, 2024
In a memorable episode of Sir David Attenborough’s BBC series Life in the Undergrowth, he lures a male cicada onto his wrist by snapping his fingers.
From Washington Times • Jun. 8, 2015
These observations have a “gee, whiz, Mr. Science” familiarity to them, especially if you have visited “Underground Adventure” at Chicago’s Field Museum watched David Attenborough’s Life in the Undergrowth and cable TV’s Monster Bug Wars.
From Slate • Dec. 5, 2011
Undergrowth and creepers that bar his progress will not hinder an elephant, which can burst through them easily.
From Life in an Indian Outpost by Casserly, Gordon
Undergrowth absolutely lacked; even the soft green of the bear clover was absent.
From The Rules of the Game by White, Stewart Edward
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
