ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ noun
Etymology: under (III) + story
1. : a foliage layer lying beneath and shaded by the main canopy of a forest
2.
a. : the plants (as seedlings, shrubs, and herbs) that form the foliage understory of a forest — sometimes distinguished from ground cover
b. : a layer of low vegetation underlying a layer of taller (as of grama grass beneath wheatgrass)