UNDERGIRD (undergirt)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected form: undergirt   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does undergird mean? 

• UNDERGIRD (verb)
  The verb UNDERGIRD has 2 senses:

1. lend moral support to

2. make secure underneath

  Familiarity information: UNDERGIRD used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• UNDERGIRD (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they undergird    ... he / she / it undergirds   
Past simple: undergirded   
Past participle: undergirded   
-ing form: undergirding   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Lend moral support to

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "undergird" is one way to...):

back up; support (give moral or psychological support, aid, or courage to)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s somebody

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make secure underneath

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

brace up; undergird

Context example:

undergird the ship

Hypernyms (to "undergird" is one way to...):

beef up; fortify; strengthen (make strong or stronger)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something