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under

 - 8 dictionary results

un⋅der

[uhn-der]
–preposition
1. beneath and covered by: under a table; under a tree.
2. below the surface of: under water; under the skin.
3. at a point or position lower or further down than: He was hit just under his eye.
4. in the position or state of bearing, supporting, sustaining, enduring, etc.: to sink under a heavy load.
5. beneath the heading or within the category of: Classify the books under “Fiction” and “General.”
6. as designated, indicated, or represented by: to register under a new name.
7. below in degree, amount, etc.; less than: purchased under cost.
8. below in rank; of less dignity, importance, or the like: A corporal is under a sergeant.
9. subject to the authority, direction, or supervision of: a bureau functioning under the prime minister.
10. subject to the instruction or advice of: to study the violin under Heifetz.
11. subject to the influence, condition, force, etc., of: under these circumstances; born under the sign of Taurus.
12. protected, controlled, or watched by: under guard.
13. authorized, warranted, or attested by: under one's hand or seal.
14. in accordance with: under the provisions of the law.
15. during the rule, administration, or government of: new laws passed under President Reagan.
16. in the state or process of: under repair; a matter under consideration.
17. Nautical. powered by the means indicated: under sail; under steam.
–adverb
18. below or beneath something: Go over the fence, not under.
19. beneath the surface.
20. in a lower place.
21. in a lower degree, amount, etc.: selling blouses for $25 and under.
22. in a subordinate position or condition.
23. in or into subjection or submission.
–adjective
24. beneath or on the underside: the under threads of the embroidery.
25. lower in position.
26. lower in degree, amount, etc.
27. lower in rank or condition.
28. subject to the control, effect, etc., as of a person, drug, or force: The hypnotist had her subject under at once. The patient was under as soon as he breathed the anesthetic.
29. go under,
a. to give in; succumb; yield: She tried desperately to fight off her drowsiness, but felt herself going under.
b. to fail in business: After 20 years on the same corner they finally went under.
30. under wraps. wrap (def. 14).

Origin:
bef. 900; ME, OE; c. D onder, G unter, ON undir, L inferus located below


2. See below.

under-

a prefixal use of under, as to indicate place or situation below or beneath (underbrush; undertow); lower in grade or dignity (undersheriff; understudy); of lesser degree, extent, or amount (undersized); or insufficiency (underfeed).

Origin:
ME; OE
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To under
un·der   (ŭn'dər)   
prep.  
    1. In a lower position or place than: a rug under a chair.

    2. To or into a lower position or place than: rolled the ball under the couch.

  1. Beneath the surface of: under the ground; swam under water.

  2. Beneath the assumed surface or guise of: traveled under a false name.

  3. Less than; smaller than: The jar's capacity is under three quarts.

  4. Less than the required amount or degree of: under voting age.

  5. Inferior to in status or rank: nine officers under me at headquarters.

  6. Subject to the authority, rule, or control of: under a dictatorship.

  7. Subject to the supervision, instruction, or influence of: under parental guidance.

  8. Undergoing or receiving the effects of: under constant care.

  9. Subject to the restraint or obligation of: under contract.

  10. Within the group or classification of: listed under biology.

  11. In the process of: under discussion.

  12. In view of; because of: under these conditions.

  13. With the authorization of: under the monarch's seal.

  14. Sowed or planted with: an acre under oats.

  15. Nautical Powered or propelled by: under sail; under steam.

  16. During the time conventionally assigned to (a sign of the zodiac): born under Aries.

adv.  
  1. In or into a place below or beneath: struggled in the water but then slipped under.

  2. In or into a subordinate or inferior condition or position.

  3. So as to be covered or enveloped.

  4. So as to be less than the required amount or degree.

adj.  
  1. Located or situated on a lower level or beneath something else: the under parts of a machine.

  2. Lower in rank, power, or authority; subordinate.

  3. Less than is required or customary: an under dose of medication.


[Middle English, from Old English; see dher- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

under  (prep., adv.)
O.E. under, from P.Gmc. *under- (cf. O.Fris. under, Du. onder, O.H.G. untar, Ger. unter, O.N. undir, Goth. undar), from PIE *ndhero- "lower" (cf. Skt. adhah "below;" Avestan athara- "lower;" L. infernus "lower," infra "below"). Notion of "subordination" was present in O.E. Also used in O.E. as a preposition meaning "between, among," as still in under these circumstances, etc. (though this may be an entirely separate root; see understand). Productive as a prefix in O.E. times, as in Ger. and Scand. Under the table is from 1921 in the sense of "very drunk," 1940s in sense of "illegal." To get something under (one's) belt is from 1954; to keep something under (one's) hat "secret" is from 1885; to have something under (one's) nose "in plain sight" is from 1548; to speak under (one's) breath "in a low voice" is attested from 1832. To be under (someone's) thumb "entirely controlled" is recorded from 1754.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 1un·der
Pronunciation: '&n-d&r
Function: adverb
: in or into a condition of unconsciousness under prior to surgery>

Main Entry: 2under
Function: preposition
: receiving or using the action or application of under local anesthesia>

Main Entry: 3under
Function: adjective
: being in an induced state of unconsciousness under —C. A.Birch>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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