Underdraw

Part of speech: verb, noun

Definitions

1. To remove the top layer of a surface in preparation for further work or application
2. To scrape or abrade the uppermost section of a material in order to create a smoother base for finishing touches
3. To clear or level off the surface layer of an object to enable better adherence of subsequent coatings or materials

Etymology: The verb "underdraw" was formed in Middle English from "under" and "draw," meaning, in its original sense, to pull or drag something beneath the surface. Its later painting sense, to sketch an underlying design, sits close to the meaning of "under" as "beneath" and "draw" as "to make lines," so the word began as a plain compound of two everyday English parts with nothing technical about it. The word you are asking about, however, has a different sense from that older compound. Here "underdraw" describes scraping or abrading the top layer of a material so that the surface beneath becomes smoother and ready for final work. The sense is a practical, workshop-level one, and the compound structure makes it transparent: the action is done to what lies under the surface, and "draw" carries the idea of pulling a tool across the material.

Synonyms: underestimate, undervalue, understate, downplay, minimize

Antonyms: overestimate, exaggerate, overstate, inflate, amplify