aboveground
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Located on or above the surface of the earth: Describes something that is not buried or subterranean, but exists at or above ground level.
- Open, public, or legitimate: In figurative use, it can describe activities or organizations that operate openly and legally, as opposed to secretly or illegally.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- The city's power lines are all aboveground, making them vulnerable to storms.
- The new rail system will be entirely aboveground, unlike the old subway.
- After years of secret meetings, their political movement finally became an aboveground organization.
Advanced Usage
- "aboveground economy": Refers to the formal, legal sector of economic activity that is taxed and monitored by the government, as opposed to the informal or black market economy.
- The policy aimed to bring more businesses into the aboveground economy.
Variants and Related Words
- Above-ground (adjective): A hyphenated variant with the same meaning.
- Above-ground swimming pools are popular in some regions.
Synonyms
- Surface: Pertaining to or located on the surface.
- Overground: Chiefly British English for aboveground, especially regarding transportation.
- Open: Operated or conducted publicly.
Antonyms
- Underground: Located beneath the surface of the ground; secret or illicit.
- Subterranean: Existing, situated, or operating below the earth's surface.
Related Phrases
Aboveground storage tank: A tank used to hold liquids or gases, situated on the surface rather than buried.
- The factory uses aboveground storage tanks for safety inspections.
Aboveground pool: A swimming pool constructed on the surface of the ground, not in-ground.
- They installed an aboveground pool in their backyard.
Adjective
- on or above the surface of the ground
- aboveground nuclear testing
- surface instruments for detecting oil deposits
- surface transportation