English

edit

Etymology

edit

From under- +‎ build.

Pronunciation

edit
  • Audio (US):(file)

Verb

edit

underbuild (third-person singular simple present underbuilds, present participle underbuilding, simple past and past participle underbuilt)

  1. (transitive) To build beneath another structure; provide a foundation or support for; undergird.
    • 1900, Yorkshire Archaeological Society, Yorkshire archaeological journal: Volume 15:
      The two eastern arches have been underbuilt for the sake of strengthening them.
  2. (transitive) To perform insufficient construction on a building or in an area; build below a specified requirement or standard.
    • 1903, West Publishing Company, The Northeastern reporter: Volume 65:
      Appellee was obliged to overbuild, rather than underbuild, the appellant's telephone line for the distance of these six spans for the following reason [...]

Antonyms

edit

Derived terms

edit
edit