Meanings
noununderwire (plural underwires)
plural underwires
- A semicircular wire placed in a bra to support the breasts.
- A bra that includes such wires.
verbunderwire (third-person singular simple present underwires, present participle underwiring, simple past and past participle underwired)
present singular third person underwires · participle present underwiring · participle past underwired · past underwired
- To fix such a wire in place.
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*h₁én
- Proto-Indo-European*h₁entér
- Proto-Indo-European*h₂én
- Proto-Indo-European*dʰeh₁-?
- Proto-Indo-European*(H)n̥dʰí
- Proto-Indo-European*(H)n̥dʰér
- Proto-Germanic*under
- Proto-West Germanic*undar
- Old Englishunder-
- Middle Englishunder-
- Englishunder-
- Englishwire
- Englishunderwire
Translations
Czech kostice
- kosticewire placed in bra
German Bügel-BH, Bügel
- Bügel-BHbra type
- Bügelwire placed in bra
Italian ferretto
- ferrettowire placed in bra
Polish fiszbin
- fiszbinwire placed in bra
Swedish bygelbehå, bygel
- bygelbehåbra type
- bygelwire placed in bra
Turkish balen, balen
- balenbra type
- balenwire placed in bra
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with underwire
firehigherpriorentirerequirebuyerhirewiresupplierempiredesiretireacquireinquireflyerdryerchoirinspireretireexpireshireaspiredireadmire
All rhymes →Cite this entry
APA
underwire. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/underwire
MLA
“underwire.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/underwire. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “underwire,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/underwire.
Source: underwire on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.