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underbelly

[ uhn-der-bel-ee ]
/ ˈʌn dərˌbɛl i /
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noun, plural un·der·bel·lies.
the lower abdomen; posterior ventral area, as of an animal's body.
the lower surface of an object; underside: the underbelly of an airplane.
a vulnerable area; weak point: an attack on the soft underbelly of Europe.
a dark, seamy, often hidden area or side: a police officer continually exposed to the underbelly of society.
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Origin of underbelly

First recorded in 1600–10; under- + belly
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use underbelly in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for underbelly

underbelly
/ (ˈʌndəˌbɛlɪ) /

noun plural -lies
the part of an animal's belly nearest to the ground
a vulnerable or unprotected part, aspect, or region
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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