under|arm /ʌ ndərɑː r m/ (underarms )
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Underarm means in or for the areas under your arms, where they are joined to your body. □ …underarm deodorants. ● N‑COUNT [usu pl] Underarm is also a noun. □ Wash the feet, underarms and body surface using soap.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] You use underarm to describe actions, such as throwing a ball, in which you do not raise your arm above your shoulder. [BRIT ] □ …an underarm throw. ● ADV [ADV after v] Underarm is also an adverb. □ Practise throwing a ball underarm. [in AM, use underhand , underhanded ]
under|belly /ʌ ndə r beli/ (underbellies )
1 N‑COUNT The underbelly of something is the part of it that can be most easily attacked or criticized. □ [+ of ] In his view, small and medium-sized companies are the soft underbelly of the economy.
2 N‑COUNT The underbelly of an animal or a vehicle is the underneath part of it. □ [+ of ] The missiles emerge from the underbelly of the transport plane.
under|brush /ʌ ndə r brʌʃ/ N‑UNCOUNT Underbrush consists of bushes and plants growing close together under trees in a forest. [AM ] □ …the cool underbrush of the rain forest. in BRIT, use undergrowth
under|carriage /ʌ ndə r kær I dʒ/ (undercarriages ) N‑COUNT The undercarriage of an aeroplane is the part, including the wheels, which supports the aeroplane when it is on the ground and when it is landing or taking off. [mainly BRIT ] in AM, use landing gear
under|class /ʌ ndə r klɑːs, -klæs/ (underclasses ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] A country's underclass consists of those members of its population who are poor, and who have little chance of improving their situation. □ The basic problems of the inner-city underclass are inadequate housing and lack of jobs.
under|clothes /ʌ ndə r kloʊðz/ N‑PLURAL Your underclothes are the items of clothing that you wear next to your skin and under your other clothes. □ …from multi-patterned sweaters to attractive underclothes.
under|cloth|ing /ʌ ndə r kloʊð I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Underclothing is the same as underclothes . □ …a common brand of men's underclothing.
under|coat /ʌ ndə r koʊt/ (undercoats ) N‑VAR An undercoat is a covering of paint or varnish put onto a surface as a base for a final covering of paint or varnish. Compare topcoat .
under|cov|er /ʌ ndə r kʌ və r / ADJ [usu ADJ n] Undercover work involves secretly obtaining information for the government or the police. □ …an undercover operation designed to catch people smugglers. □ …undercover reporters. ● ADV [ADV after v] Undercover is also an adverb. □ Swanson persuaded Hubley to work undercover to capture the killer.
under|cur|rent /ʌ ndə r kʌrənt, -kɜːr-/ (undercurrents )
1 N‑COUNT If there is an undercurrent of a feeling, you are hardly aware of the feeling, but it influences the way you think or behave. □ [+ of ] We have become quite accustomed to an undercurrent of criticism of our large grocery chains.
2 N‑COUNT An undercurrent is a strong current of water that is moving below the surface current and in a different direction to it. □ Colin tried to swim after him but the strong undercurrent swept them apart.
under|cut /ʌ ndə r kʌ t/ (undercuts , undercutting ) The form undercut is used in the present tense and is also the past tense and past participle. 1 VERB If you undercut someone or undercut their prices, you sell a product more cheaply than they do. [BUSINESS ] □ [V n] The firm will be able to undercut its competitors whilst still making a profit. □ [V n] …promises to undercut air fares on some routes by 40 per cent.
2 VERB [usu passive] If your attempts to achieve something are undercut by something, that thing prevents your attempts from being effective. □ [be V -ed] Popular support would be undercut by political developments.
under|de|vel|oped /ʌ ndə r d I ve ləpt/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] An underdeveloped country or region does not have modern industries and usually has a low standard of living. Some people prefer to use the term developing . □ Underdeveloped countries should be assisted by allowing them access to modern technology. □ …public-health problems in the underdeveloped world.
under|dog /ʌ ndə r dɒg, [AM ] -dɔːg/ (underdogs ) N‑COUNT The underdog in a competition or situation is the person who seems least likely to succeed or win. □ Most of the crowd were cheering for the underdog to win just this one time.
under|done /ʌ ndə r dʌ n/ ADJ Underdone food has been cooked for less time than necessary, and so is not pleasant to eat. □ The second batch of bread came out underdone. □ …underdone meat.
under|em|ployed /ʌ ndər I mplɔ I d/ ADJ If someone is underemployed , they have not got enough work to do, or their work does not make full use of their skills or abilities.
under|es|ti|mate /ʌ ndəre st I me I t/ (underestimates , underestimating , underestimated )
1 VERB If you underestimate something, you do not realize how large or great it is or will be. □ [V n] None of us should ever underestimate the degree of difficulty women face in career advancement. □ [V wh] Never underestimate what you can learn from a group of like-minded people. ● under|es|ti|ma|tion /ʌ ndərest I me I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N ] □ [+ of ] …a serious underestimation of harm to the environment.
2 VERB If you underestimate someone, you do not realize what they are capable of doing. □ [V n] The first lesson I learnt as a soldier was never to underestimate the enemy.