subterranean

adjective

sub·​ter·​ra·​nean ˌsəb-tə-ˈrā-nē-ən How to pronounce subterranean (audio)
-nyən
variants or less commonly subterraneous
1
: being, lying, or operating under the surface of the earth
2
: existing or working in secret : hidden
a subterranean network of criminals
subterraneanly adverb
or less commonly subterraneously

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Go Underground With Subterranean

A tunnel is a subterranean road or pathway, and a subway is a subterranean railway. The subterranean vaults at Fort Knox hold billions of dollars of gold reserves. Subterranean reservoirs called aquifers are tapped for water; in places where the pressure on the subterranean water is great enough, a hole drilled in the ground will bring it bubbling to the surface.

Examples of subterranean in a Sentence

a subterranean bunker that supposedly could withstand even an atomic blast
Recent Examples on the Web There’s no truer visual metaphor for this than Sen’s canny choice of town to play his fictional Limbo: real-life Aussie settlement Coober Pedy, where most homes and businesses are subterranean, built right into the region’s sandstone, as if cave times had returned. Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024 There’s also a 20-seat movie theater, bowling alley, shooting range, gym and classroom setup for the couple’s five children who are now grown, as well as a subterranean man cave/emergency bunker equipped with bulletproof doors and a 4,500-bottle wine cellar. Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 21 Mar. 2024 The island is ringed by sheer cliffs and honeycombed with miles of subterranean passageways. Carina Del Valle Schorske, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024 Basement, a subterranean entertainment space, is one of the most talked about amenities, as is the bowling alley and ice skating rink. Chris Dong, Travel + Leisure, 29 Feb. 2024 The Kölner Philharmonie, part of the sizable campus of the Museum Ludwig, serves as the Gürzenich’s and the WDR’s subterranean home, its cavernous hall hidden below the unassuming brick expanse of the Heinrich-Böll-Platz. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 Work off dinner with a trip down the stairs to the subterranean speakeasy bar with dance music and vintage license plates. The Indianapolis Star, 27 Feb. 2024 Not far away, a discreet passageway descends to a subterranean bunker where teams of Ukrainian soldiers track Russian spy satellites and eavesdrop on conversations between Russian commanders. Michael Schwirtz, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2024 Signs of this subterranean shuffling were also spotted inside the geothermal power plant’s boreholes. Robin George Andrews, Quanta Magazine, 20 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'subterranean.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin subterraneus, from sub- + terra earth — more at thirst

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of subterranean was in 1603

Dictionary Entries Near subterranean

Cite this Entry

“Subterranean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subterranean. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

subterranean

adjective
sub·​ter·​ra·​nean ˌsəb-tə-ˈrā-nē-ən How to pronounce subterranean (audio)
-nyən
1
: being, lying, or operating under the surface of the earth
2
: existing or working in secret : hidden

More from Merriam-Webster on subterranean

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