subterranean

Everyday

1. Subterranean means underground, below the surface of the earth. tree →
2. (formal) It can also mean hidden or secret. tree →

In the lessons

In science and geography lessons, subterranean rivers, caves, tunnels and animals (moles, some insects, blind cave fish) live or flow underground. In stories, subterranean worlds and passages add mystery. "Sub-" means under and "terra" means earth, like in "terrain" and "territory".

Examples

• Moles live in subterranean tunnels. tree →
• The cave had a subterranean river. tree →
• Explorers found a subterranean city in Turkey. tree →
• Some ants build huge subterranean nests. tree →
• The London Underground is a subterranean railway. tree →
• Blind fish swim in subterranean lakes. tree →
• The story was set in a subterranean kingdom. tree →
• When Thumbling saw that they were gone, he crept back out of the subterranean passage. tree →

Note

Formal; in everyday talk say "underground". Say "sub-ter-RAY-nee-an". Latin roots: sub (under) + terra (earth).