underground

American  

[uhn-der-ground, uhn-der-ground] / ˈʌn dərˈgraʊnd, ˈʌn dərˌgraʊnd /

adverb

1. beneath the surface of the ground: ground.

   traveling underground by subway.

2. in concealment or secrecy; not openly.

   subversion carried on underground.

---

adjective

1. existing, situated, operating, or taking place beneath the surface of the ground. ground.

2. used, or for use, underground.

3. hidden or secret; not open.

   underground political activities.

4. published or produced by political or social radicals or nonconformists.

   an underground newspaper.

5. avant-garde; experimental.

   an underground movie.

6. critical of or attacking the established society or system.

   underground opinion.

7. of or for nonconformists; unusual.

   an underground vegetarian restaurant.

noun

1. the place or region beneath the surface of the ground. ground.

2. an underground space or passage.

3. a secret organization fighting the established government or occupation forces.

   He fought in the French underground during the Nazi occupation of France.

4. (often initial capital letter) a movement or group existing outside the establishment and usually reflecting unorthodox, avant-garde, or radical views.

5. Chiefly British. a subway system.

verb (used with object)

1. to place beneath the surface of the ground: ground.

   to underground utility lines.

underground British  

adjective

1. occurring, situated, or used below ground level

   an underground tunnel

   an underground explosion

2. secret; hidden

   underground activities

---

adverb

1. going below ground level

   the tunnel led underground

2. into hiding or secrecy

   the group was driven underground

noun

1. a space or region below ground level

2. 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

3. US and Canadian equivalent: subway.  an electric passenger railway operated in underground tunnels

4. (usually preceded by the)

   1. any avant-garde, experimental, or subversive movement in popular art, films, music, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      the underground press

      underground music

Etymology

Origin of underground

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

Example Sentences

The UK's first geothermal power plant is set to go live, providing a completely new type of renewable electricity using hot water from underground.

From BBC

Walking away from an underground station, it's less than two minutes until we reach our first obstacle: a single e-scooter, parked in the middle of the pavement.

From BBC

Nor has evidence emerged that Tehran has tried to recover enriched uranium buried underground.

From The Wall Street Journal

They looked just like rabbit holes, but supposedly gnome holes all led to a large underground cavern where they kept hoards of food.

From Literature

The ground-level containers hide a chute to underground bins, one for recycling and one for general waste, that Hirra says are meant to be collected on different days so one doesn't contaminate the other.

From BBC

Related Words

• clandestine
• experimental
• hidden
• private