Definition of "underwire" []

• A semicircular wire support sewn into the underside of each cup of a brassiere. (noun)
• A brassiere with such a wire support. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "They should be hand washed and line dried so as to preserve the beautiful lace and the hand sewn underwire which is both functional and extremely comfortable."
• "Underwire: Some women refuse to wear underwire for exercise, but it makes the band more secure, which is especially helpful for those with larger chests."
• "Linda totes her basket on one arm, the mobile phone cradled against her ear, whilst the other hand scratches beneath the underwire of her brassiere."