Underpinning
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Part of speech verb
Quick meaning: Underpinning is a verb meaning present participle and gerund of underpin.
Meaning
present participle and gerund of underpin.
More Meanings
- A support or foundation, especially as a structure of masonry that supports a wall.
- (figurative) A basis for something.
- (figurative, humorous) The lower body or legs.
Example Sentences
This house's underpinning is not up to standard.
I would like to know more about the underpinning of this political theory.
Released were two singles that went nowhere fast; the third, "Early Morning Love" (#68, 1974), was a teasing male fantasy with a folkie feel and countrified pedal-steel guitar underpinnings.
Thinks I to myself, “Sol, you're run off your course again. This is a rich man's summer ‘cottage’ and if you don't look out there's likely to be some nice, lively dog taking an interest in your underpinning.”
Word Forms
- underpinnings
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include cornerstone, shoring, pillar, pivot, underlying, staying.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.