Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

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.

under|ex|posed /ʌ ndər I kspoʊ zd/ ADJ If a photograph is underexposed , it is darker than it should be because the film was not exposed to enough light.

under|fed /ʌ ndə ^r fe d/ ADJ People who are underfed do not get enough food to eat. □  Kate still looks pale and underfed. □  …ill-trained and underfed young soldiers.