underexpressed
|un-der-ex-pressed|
C1
/ˌʌndərɪkˈsprɛst/
(underexpress)
less than normal expression
Etymology
Etymology Information
'underexpressed' originates from the prefix 'under-' meaning 'below' or 'less than' and the verb 'express' meaning 'to produce or show'.
Historical Evolution
'underexpress' was formed by combining 'under-' with 'express', and eventually became the adjective 'underexpressed'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to express less than normal', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
describes a gene or protein that is produced in lower amounts than normal.
The gene was found to be underexpressed in the cancer cells.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/07/08 23:53