understructure
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
English
[edit ]Etymology
[edit ]Pronunciation
[edit ]Noun
[edit ]understructure (plural understructures )
- The supporting structure underneath something, such as a vehicle or bridge.
- Antonyms: overstructure , superstructure
- Holonym: infrastructure (facilities sense)
- Near-synonyms: infrastructure (foundations sense), underpinnings
- 2008 January 22, Kirk Johnson, "Strength Renewed, a Grand Old Building Is Back", in New York Times[1] :
- Four small suspension bridges, complete with towers and cables like those on the span across the East River, are now encased inside the Capitol’s subbasement understructure.
Derived terms
[edit ]Verb
[edit ]understructure (third-person singular simple present understructures , present participle understructuring , simple past and past participle understructured )
- (transitive ) To structure insufficiently or inadequately.
- Antonym: overstructure