- lying beneath the earth's surface; underground
- secret; hidden
Also sub·ter·ra′neous
Origin of subterranean
Classical Latin subterraneus from sub- (see sub-) + terra, earth: see terrain one who lives underground
adjective
- An example of subterranean is a cave that is underneath the earth.
- An example of subterranean is a secret behind-the-scenes group that is in control of the book publishing industry.
The definition of subterranean is something that is under the earth's surface, or that is secret or concealed.
YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2018 by LoveToKnow Corp
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"subterranean." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/subterranean>.
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subterranean. (n.d.). Retrieved December 18th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/subterranean
subterranean
Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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MLA Style
"subterranean." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/subterranean>.
APA Style
subterranean. (n.d.). Retrieved December 18th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/subterranean
subterranean
adjective
- Situated or operating beneath the earth's surface; underground.
- Hidden; secret: subterranean motives for murder.
Origin of subterranean
Latin subterrāneus sub- sub- terra earth ; see ters- in Indo-European roots.Related Forms:
- sub′ter·ra′ne·an·ly
adverb
THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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MLA Style
"subterranean." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/subterranean>.
APA Style
subterranean. (n.d.). Retrieved December 18th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/subterranean
Adjective
(comparative more subterranean, superlative most subterranean)
- below ground, under the earth, underground
English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.
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Cite this page
MLA Style
"subterranean." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/subterranean>.
APA Style
subterranean. (n.d.). Retrieved December 18th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/subterranean
Sentence Examples
- Many of the lakes are connected by subterranean channels, and a change in the surface of one lake is often accompanied by a change in the surface of another.
- Near Fasano are two small subterranean chapels with paintings of the 11th century A.D.
- Hadrian took from masters the power of life and death and abolished the subterranean prisons.
- The portion of Carniola belonging to the Karst region presents a great number of caves, subterranean streams, funnels and similar phenomena.
- Beneath the fine banqueting hall, a flight of steps descends into "the Wogan," a vast subterranean chamber giving access to the harbour.
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Words near subterranean in the dictionary
- subterranean
- subterraneous
- subterraneously
- subterraneousness