belowground

American  

[bih-loh-ground] / bɪˈloʊˌgraʊnd /

adjective

1. situated beneath the surface of the earth; subterranean.

2. no longer living; buried, as in a cemetery (usually used predicatively).

   All those who might have known about the incident are now belowground.

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Etymology

Origin of belowground

First recorded in 1955–60; below + ground ¹

Example Sentences

Somewhere in the distance and deep belowground, water trickled and plunked onto ancient rock.

From Literature

"While belowground processes are very important for ecosystem function, they are poorly understood compared to above-ground processes because they are more difficult to study," said Wong.

From Science Daily

The basic chemical make-up of the aboveground and belowground acylsugars were noticeably different, so much so that they could be defined as different classes of acylsugars entirely.

From Science Daily

Another innovation was the dumbwaiter, which moved hot food and bottles of wine from the belowground kitchens and storerooms—called “dependencies”—up to the first floor.

From Literature

This decomposition has the potential to infuse above- and belowground food webs with carbon, which can affect energy flow between these critical ecological linkages and affect the species they support.

From Science Daily