above-ground
above-ground — adjective
1. resting on top of the soil, or built so that it sits in the open air rather than
resting on top of the soil, or built so that it sits in the open air rather than buried under the earth.
Ilan filled the new above-ground pool in his backyard before the summer heat arrived.
above-ground + noun (pool sitting on the surface)
The farm stores its water in a large above-ground tank beside the red barn.
above-ground + noun for built structures
Engineers chose above-ground pipes so workers could spot leaks without digging.
The old mine kept its cables above-ground to make repairs faster and cheaper.
Most of the cabling at the campsite runs above-ground along wooden posts.
- surface
used as a modifier for things sitting on top of the ground, e.g. surface pipes
- overground
British, mainly for railways and transport rather than tanks or pools
- underground
buried below the soil
- buried
covered by earth
文法句型
above-ground + noun
用法筆記
Almost always sits directly before the noun it describes (above-ground pool, above-ground tank). Distinguish from sense 2, which is about being legal and open rather than physically on the surface.
2. operating in the open and within the law, as opposed to secret or illegal activi
operating in the open and within the law, as opposed to secret or illegal activity that is hidden from the authorities.
After years of secret meetings, the group finally became an above-ground political party.
contrast with secret/underground organisation
Folake opened an above-ground business and now pays her taxes like any other shop owner.
above-ground + noun (legal, registered)
The writers moved their banned magazine into above-ground bookshops once the new law passed.
Once the rebels gained power, their hidden radio station turned into an above-ground broadcaster.
Christopher prefers above-ground deals where every payment is recorded and easy to check.
- legitimate
stresses being lawful and accepted, without the 'came out of hiding' nuance
- open
stresses visibility, not necessarily the legal status
- underground
secret and often illegal, hidden from authorities
- clandestine
formal; done in secret to avoid being noticed
文法句型
above-ground + noun
用法筆記
Subject is usually an organisation, business, or activity that has come out of hiding into open, legal operation. Opposite of 'underground' in its figurative sense, not its physical one.