to undergrow

1 9.5

To grow under other plants or objects close to the ground

verb
/ˌʌndərˈɡroʊ/

: crecer por debajo

They noticed that moss began to undergrow the fallen logs after the rain.

Examples

In the dense forest, smaller plants tend to undergrow the larger trees.
The flowers will undergrow the shrubs in the garden as spring arrives.
♪ ♪ Pigeon-toed undergrowed flyin' purple people eater

Monsters vs Aliens (2009)

Antonyms

to overgrow

3 4.4

To become too large and cover a place with plants

Surface Forms

undergrow infinitive

undergrowing present participle

undergrows third person singular

undergrew past

undergrown past participle

Morphology

undergrow = grow (transparent) = under + grow

Productive combination of the prefix 'under-' (beneath) with the verb 'grow'; the meaning is directly recoverable by learners.

Etymology

The word undergrow combines under ('beneath') and grow ('to get bigger'). So, it means plants or vegetation that grow beneath something else, like small ferns or ivy that live under trees or along a wall.