ondermijnen — meaning in English

English meaning

• cave noun A natural hollow space underground or in the side of a cliff or hill.
• sap noun The watery fluid that circulates through a plant, carrying nutrients.
• undermine verb To weaken support or confidence gradually, often secretly.

Senses

ondermijnen is used for these senses in English:

• cave To hollow out or undermine.
• sap (transitive) To subvert by digging or wearing away; to mine; to undermine; to destroy the foundation of.
• sap (transitive) To make unstable or infirm; to unsettle; to weaken.
• sap (transitive) To gradually weaken.
• sap (intransitive) To proceed by mining, or by secretly undermining; to execute saps.
• undermine (figuratively) To weaken or work against; to hinder, sabotage. [from 15th c.]

cave — full definition

1. noun A natural hollow space underground or in the side of a cliff or hill.
2. noun Informally, a private room or space someone retreats to (a "man cave").
3. verb To give in or surrender, especially after resisting.
4. verb To collapse inward.

sap — full definition

1. noun The watery fluid that circulates through a plant, carrying nutrients.
2. noun A gullible or easily fooled person.
3. verb To gradually drain someone's strength, energy, or resolve.
4. noun A small, weighted club, often leather-covered, used as a hand weapon.

Related Dutch words