underbuild en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
Etymology
From under- + build.
Meanings
-
(transitive) To build beneath another structure; provide a foundation or support for; undergird.
The two eastern arches have been underbuilt for the sake of strengthening them.
1900, Yorkshire Archaeological Society, Yorkshire archaeological journal: Volume 15:
-
(transitive) To perform insufficient construction on a building or in an area; build below a specified requirement or standard.
Appellee was obliged to overbuild, rather than underbuild, the appellant's telephone line for the distance of these six spans for the following reason [...]
1903, West Publishing Company, The Northeastern reporter: Volume 65:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| underbuilds | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| underbuilt | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| underbuilt | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| underbuilding | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic |