# underwood

/ˈəndɝˌwʊd/ (US) · /ˌʌndəwˈʊd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/underwood
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. forest vegetation

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

the small trees, bushes, and plants that grow on the ground beneath the taller trees in a forest.

For teachers: the layer of shrubs, small trees, and herbaceous plants growing under the canopy of a forest.

- The deer disappeared quickly into the thick underwood of the ancient forest.
- The sunlight struggled to penetrate the dense canopy, leaving the underwood in a state of perpetual, damp emerald twilight.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun in ecological or literary contexts.

### 2. typewriter brand

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

a famous brand of old-fashioned manual typewriters.

For teachers: a brand of manual typewriter produced by the Underwood Typewriter Company, iconic in early 20th-century office culture.

- The author wrote all of his famous novels on an old Underwood typewriter.
- The collector took great pride in his restored 1920s Underwood, noting that the mechanical action remained superior to many later models.

Teaching tip: This sense is almost exclusively found in historical contexts or when discussing vintage technology.

## Examples

- The deer hid in the thick underwood.
- Hikers had to clear a path through the dense underwood to reach the riverbank.
- Ecologists noted that the health of the underwood is vital for the local bird population, as it provides essential nesting sites and protection from larger predators.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.