prep (1) 在……底下(下方) (in or to a lower position than， sometimes directly below， sometimes not， sometimes touching， sometimes not)(fml)：There is a bottle～the mattress/a cellar～the kitchen. 床垫下有一个瓶子/厨房下有一个地窖。the spring～the hill/the summit/one's feet山/山顶/脚下的山泉;shelter/sit/sleep～a tree躲避/坐在/睡在树下;live～the ground/the same roof/the horizon 生活在地下/同一屋顶下/地平线下;be situated～a mountain座落在山下;wear a vest～one's skirt在衬衣下穿一件汗衫;bury the body～the floorboards把尸体埋在地板下;(boat) sink/disappear～the waves (船)沉入/消失在波涛之下;crawl out from～the table从桌子下面爬出来;B～the veneer of civilization he was a very vulgar man.文明的外表之下，他其实是一个非常粗俗的人。〖同〗below，under，underneath;〖反〗above，over;

(2) 与……不相称 (unworthy of) (fml)：The job/Such behaviour/Lying is～him.这个工作/这种行为/说谎与他的身份不相称。It would be～him/his dignity to do that.做那种事与他的身份不相称/有辱他的尊严。Such details/fellows are～my notice.这种小事/人不值我一理。The conduct/accusation/person is～contempt.这行为/指控/人不值一理。marry～one 嫁给一个比自己地位低的人;be far～sb socially/in intelligence社会地位/智力远远低于某人;〖反〗above;

(3)在……的控制或影响之下(under the control or influence of)(fml)：B～the teacher's guiding hand the children made great progress.在老师的指导下孩子们进步很大。The shelf was beginning to sag～the weight of the books upon it.在书的重压下书柜的搁板开始下沉。stagger～the blow 被打得摇晃;

adv在底下(下方)(in or to a lower position，sometimes directly below，sometimes not，sometimes touching，sometimes not)(fml)：The moon looked down on the world～.月亮照着下面的世界。look down (from the plane/the mountain) at the plains～. (从飞机/山上)看下面的平原;heaven above and the earth～天国与下界;on the hills and in the villages～在山上和在下面的村子里;The valley lay～.山谷尽收眼底。the story printed～印在下面的故事;look up from～从下面往上看;〖同〗below，under;〖反〗above;

【辨异】介词beneath与below、under和underneath的区别见BELOW。