undermine

英語（米国） (en-US) 英語（イギリス） (en-GB)

IPA（発音記号）

/ʌndəˈmaɪn/

動詞

比喩的用法

To make someone or something weaker or less effective.

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The engineers planned to undermine the fortress by digging a tunnel beneath its walls.

詳細

意味（1）

To dig underneath (something), to make a passage for destructive or military purposes; to sap.

Martin, for instance, had on one occasion undermined a tree sacred to old gods, then stood in the path of its fall, but forced it to fall elsewhere by making the sign of the Cross.

詳細

意味（2）

(figuratively) To weaken or work against; to hinder, sabotage.

The war efforts were undermined by the constant bickering between the allies.

詳細

意味（3）

To erode the base or foundation of something, e.g. by the action of water.

Services between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh Waverley via Falkirk High are currently suspended, following a 30-metre breach of the Union Canal that occurred on August 12 after torrential rain and thunderstorms. The thousands of gallons of water that cascaded onto the railway line below washed away track, ballast and overhead line equipment, and undermined embankments along a 300-metre section of Scotland's busiest rail link.

詳細

undermines （ present singular third-person ）

undermining （ participle present ）

undermined （ participle past ）

undermined （ past ）