noun
Meaning 1
A semicircular wire placed in a bra to support the breasts.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
underwire
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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rhymes with -aɪə(ɹ)
noun
Meaning 2
A bra that includes such wires.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 3
To fix such a wire in place.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h1én Proto-Indo-European *h1entér Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dhí Proto-Indo-European *-ér Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dhér Proto-Germanic *under Proto-West Germanic *undar Old English under- Middle English under- English under- English wire English underwire From under- + wire.
Across languages
Translations
8 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Czech: kostice — wire placed in bra
- German: Bügel — wire placed in bra
- Italian: ferretto — wire placed in bra
- Swedish: bygel — wire placed in bra
- Turkish: balen — wire placed in bra
- German: Bügel-BH — bra type
- Swedish: bygelbehå — bra type
- Turkish: balen — bra type