UNDERMINE


Meaning of UNDERMINE in English

| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ transitive verb

Etymology: Middle English underminen, from under (I) + minen to mine — more at mine

1. : to excavate the earth beneath especially for the purpose of causing to fall : form a mine under : sap

undermine a wall

2.

a. : to wash away supporting material from under

flood water undermined the building's foundation

stream undermines the glacier

b. : to make a passage under

fence undermined by dogs

c. : to erode underneath or the underlayer of

an ulcer may undermine the adjacent mucous membrane

3. : to remove the foundation or support of subtly or by underhand means : subvert or weaken insidiously or secretly

the way a writer handles the social situation either supports or undermines it — Peter Crowcroft

selling below cost … to undermine competition — Time

undermine public confidence in its judicial system

4. : to weaken or ruin by degrees

prolonged overwork had undermined his health

Synonyms: see weaken

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.