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Synonyms

understory

American  
[uhn-der-stawr-ee, -stohr-ee] / ˈʌn dərˌstɔr i, -ˌstoʊr i /

noun

  1. the shrubs and plants growing beneath the main canopy of a forest.


Etymology

Origin of understory

First recorded in 1900–05; under- + story 2

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.

See Examples For:

The understory of the ponderosa and sugar pine forest was speckled with manzanita, oak trees and dogwoods with yellow leaves, marking the start of fall.

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 1, 2024

For decades, tropical ornithologists believed narrow temperature tolerances may have been to blame for the declines of understory birds, but this study suggests otherwise.

From Science Daily Mar. 14, 2024

You can use these in mixed plantings under your conifers or group a bunch together to form a hedge or thick understory.

From Seattle Times Dec. 9, 2023

Coffee is an understory plant: It grows best under a canopy of shade-providing trees.

From Salon Oct. 23, 2023

Sitting back, she watched the leaves flicker out in the understory.

From "The Reader" by Traci Chee

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