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- Dictionaryunderpin/ˌʌndəˈpɪn/
verb
- 1. support (a building or other structure) from below by laying a solid foundation below ground level or by substituting stronger for weaker materials.
- 2. support, justify, or form the basis for: "the theme of honour underpinning the two books"
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to give support, strength, or a basic structure to something: He presented data to underpin his argument. Gradually the laws that underpinned (= formed part of the basic structure of) apartheid were abolished. When restoring the building, the first priority was to underpin the exterior walls by adding wooden supports along the foundations.
verb. un· der· pin ˌən-dər-ˈpin. underpinned; underpinning; underpins. Synonyms of underpin. transitive verb. 1. : support, substantiate. underpin a thesis with evidence. 2. : to form part of, strengthen, or replace the foundation of. underpin a structure. underpin a sagging building. Synonyms. bear. bolster. brace. buttress. carry. prop (up)
architecture formal or specialized. to give support, strength, or a basic structure to something: He presented data to underpin his argument. Gradually the laws that underpinned (= formed part of the basic structure of) apartheid were abolished.
to prop up or support from below; strengthen, as by reinforcing a foundation. to replace or strengthen the foundation of (a building or the like). to furnish a foundation for; corroborate: The author's conclusions are underpinned by references to experimental findings. underpin. / ˌʌndəˈpɪn / verb.
If one thing underpins another, it helps the other thing to continue or succeed by supporting and strengthening it.
To underpin is to justify or support the ideas behind something, the way your extensive research underpins your self-published book on ice cream trucks in the United States. Whenever you substantiate someone's claims, theories, or stories, you underpin them.
un·der·pin. (ŭn′dər-pĭn′) tr.v. un·der·pinned, un·der·pin·ning, un·der·pins. 1. To support from below, as with props, girders, or masonry. 2. To give support or substance to: assumptions that underpinned their claims. American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
