undercurrent
|un-der-cur-rent|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˈʌndərˌkʌrənt/
🇬🇧
/ˈʌndəˌkʌrənt/
hidden flow
Etymology
Etymology Information
'undercurrent' originates from the combination of 'under' and 'current', where 'under' meant 'below' and 'current' referred to a flow of water or air.
Historical Evolution
'undercurrent' was formed by combining the words 'under' and 'current' in English, maintaining its meaning related to hidden or underlying flows.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred to a hidden flow of water, but over time it evolved to include hidden emotions or influences.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a current of water below the surface, moving in a different direction from any surface current.
The swimmer was caught in a strong undercurrent.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/07/09 23:07