Definition of "underpinning" []

• Material or masonry used to support a structure, such as a wall. (noun)
• A support or foundation. Often used in the plural. (noun)
• Informal The human legs. Often used in the plural. (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.

• "PRESTON: I think the president was very interested in stabilizing and showing confidence and stability in these institutions, and then providing in place a longer-term underpinning through this regulator to make sure that that confidence goes well into the future."
• ""These things suggest there is some medium-term underpinning for the rand," Worthington said, adding that sentiment could shift in the rand's favour, with progress in privatisation having a galvanizing effect."
• "These tax agreements have been so successful in underpinning the revenues of some of the provinces and in simplifying the tax structure, that the Federal Government decided to renew its offer."