2. To support by some solid foundation; to place something underneath for support. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
underpin — un‧der‧pin [ˌʌndəˈpɪn ǁ ər ] verb underpinned PTandPPX underpinning PRESPARTX [transitive] to provide a strong financial basis for something: • A firm overnight performance on Wall Street also helped underpin the market, which had presented a… … Financial and business terms
underpin — index bolster Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
underpin — (v.) 1520s (figurative); 1530s (literal), from UNDER (Cf. under) + PIN (Cf. pin) (v.). Related: Underpinned; UNDERPINNING (Cf. underpinning) … Etymology dictionary
underpin — ► VERB (underpinned, underpinning) 1) support (a structure) from below by laying a solid foundation or substituting stronger for weaker materials. 2) support, justify, or form the basis for … English terms dictionary
underpin — [un΄dər pin′] vt. underpinned, underpinning 1. to support or strengthen from beneath, as with props 2. to support or strengthen in any way; corroborate, substantiate, etc … English World dictionary
underpin — transitive verb Date: 1522 1. support, substantiate < underpin a thesis with evidence > 2. to form part of, strengthen, or replace the foundation of < underpin a structure > < underpin a sagging building > … New Collegiate Dictionary
underpin — UK [ˌʌndə(r)ˈpɪn] / US [ˌʌndərˈpɪn] verb [transitive] Word forms underpin : present tense I/you/we/they underpin he/she/it underpins present participle underpinning past tense underpinned past participle underpinned 1) to be an important basic… … English dictionary
underpin — verb /ˌʌn.dəˈpɪn,ˌʌn.dɚˈpɪn,ˈʌn.dɚˌpɪn/ a) To support from below with props or masonry. You should underpin the mine roof to prevent further collapse. b) To give support to; to corroborate. Public confidence in politicians must underpin our… … Wiktionary
underpin — verb Underpin is used with these nouns as the subject: ↑assumption, ↑philosophy, ↑principle … Collocations dictionary
underpin — un|der|pin [ˌʌndəˈpın US ər ] v past tense and past participle underpinned present participle underpinning [T] 1.) to give strength or support to something and to help it succeed ▪ the theories that underpin his teaching method ▪ America s wealth … Dictionary of contemporary English
