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un·der [ úndər ] CORE MEANING: a grammatical word used to express the concept of being beneath or below something, e.g. in location, size, age, or price
  (prep) Johnny had the book hidden under his blanket.
(prep) The machine is under a foot high and will fit on top of any work surface.
(prep) This toy should not be given to children under three years old.
(prep) It's the best meal you can get for under $10.
(adv) For one week only, kids five and under eat free. |
| Definition: |
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1. preposition below: at or to a lower level than something that rests on top or covers and protects
They were sheltering under a huge umbrella.
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2. preposition inside: inside something that forms a covering outer layer or has an upper surface
He had two sweaters on under his jacket.
under the water
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3. preposition less than: fewer in number than something, or less than something, e.g. in age, quantity, size, or price
We should be finished in under a month.
There were under a hundred people at the meeting.
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4. preposition subordinate to: lower in rank or status than somebody or something
I was under him in the company hierarchy.
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5. preposition subject to: subject to the control or authority of somebody or something
under existing legislation
working under a new boss
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6. preposition during rule of: during the rule of a person or government
The crime rate had in fact gone down under the new mayor.
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7. preposition given the existence of: while something, especially conditions or circumstances, exists
impossible under these conditions
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8. preposition in the process of: used to indicate that somebody or something is going through a particular process or experience
under scrutiny
under construction
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9. preposition using name: using a particular name, especially an assumed one
traveling under a false name
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10. preposition classified within: classified as or in something
filed under "Miscellaneous"
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11. preposition planted with: planted with a particular crop
a field under rye
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12. preposition powered by: powered or driven by something
under sail
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13. preposition in sign of zodiac: during a period in which the Sun is in a particular position in the zodiac
born under Aries
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14. adverb below surface or point: at or to a point at a lower level, especially one below a surface or covering, or passing through at a lower level
watched from the lifeboats as the ship went under
lifted the wire and crawled under
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15. adverb fewer or less: fewer or less than a previously given figure
Employers with 50 employees or under are exempt.
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16. adverb subservient: in or into a position of submissiveness or subservience
(
informal
)
keeping the masses under
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17. adverb unconscious: in or into a state of unconsciousness or hypnosis
(
informal
)
felt myself going under
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| [ Old English< Indo-European] |
