UNDERCURRENT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does undercurrent mean? 

• UNDERCURRENT (noun)
  The noun UNDERCURRENT has 2 senses:

1. a subdued emotional quality underlying an utterance; implicit meaning

2. a current below the surface of a fluid

  Familiarity information: UNDERCURRENT used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• UNDERCURRENT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A subdued emotional quality underlying an utterance; implicit meaning

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

undercurrent; undertone

Hypernyms ("undercurrent" is a kind of...):

meaning; substance (the idea that is intended)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A current below the surface of a fluid

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

undercurrent; undertide

Hypernyms ("undercurrent" is a kind of...):

current; stream (a steady flow of a fluid (usually from natural causes))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "undercurrent"):

sea-poose; sea-purse; sea-puss; sea purse; sea puss; undertow (the seaward undercurrent created after waves have broken on the shore)

Holonyms ("undercurrent" is a part of...):

tide (the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon)

 Context examples 

He concealed his disappointment, and joined so easily with her in her criticism that she did not realize that deep down in him was running a strong undercurrent of disagreement.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)