underpin
UK [ˌʌn.də'pɪn] US [-dɚ-] (-nn-)
verb transitive
■to give support, strength or a basic structure to something 支撑；加强；巩固；构成（基础）•He presented the figures to underpin his argument.他提供了一些资料来支援他的论点。 •Gradually the laws that underpinned (= formed part of the basic structure of) apartheid were abolished.以种族隔离制度为基础的法律被逐步废除了。 •specialized When restoring the building, the first priority was to underpin the exterior walls by adding wooden supports along the foundations.修复这座建筑物时，首先要做的是沿着地基给外墙增加木支撑。 |