- in, at, or to a position down from; lower than; below: shoes under the bed, under a blazing sun
- beneath the surface of: under water
- below and to the other side of: we drove under a bridge
- covered, surmounted, enveloped, or concealed by: to wear a vest under a coat
- lower in authority, position, power, etc. than
- lower in value, amount, etc. than; less than
- lower than the required or standard degree of: under the age specified for the job
- in a position or condition regarded as lower than or inferior to, or implying subordination to; specif.,
- subject to the control, limitations, government, direction, instruction, or influence of: under orders from the President, under oath, born under Aries
- burdened, oppressed, or distressed by: under a strain
- subjected to; undergoing: under an anesthetic, under repair
- with the character, pretext, disguise, or cover of: under an alias
- in or included in (the designated category, division, class, etc.): spiders are classified under arachnids
- during the rule of: literature flourished under Elizabeth I
- being the subject of: the question under discussion
- having regard for; because of: under the circumstances
- authorized or attested by: under her signature
- planted with; sown with: an acre under corn
Origin:
ME < OE, akin to Ger unter < IE *ṇdhos, *ṇdheri, under > L infra, below
adjective
lower in position, authority, rank, amount, degree, etc.