underground

Meanings

Adjective

• Below the ground; below the surface of the Earth.
• Hidden, furtive, secretive.
• Outside the mainstream, especially unofficial and hidden from the authorities.

Adverb

• Below the ground.
• Secretly.

Noun

• Regions beneath the surface of the earth, both natural (eg. caves) and man-made (eg. mines).
• Synonym of subway: a railway that is under the ground.
• A movement or organisation of people who resist political convention.
• A movement or organisation of people who resist artistic convention.

Verb

• To route electricity distribution cables underground

Origin

• From Middle English undergrounde, equivalent to under + ground. Compare Dutch ondergrond, ondergronds, German Untergrund, Danish undergrunds.