0 a strong current flowing underwater in a different direction to the way the water on the surface is moving, especially one that flows away from the land at the same time as a wave hits the beach
1 a strong current that flows under water away from a beach at the same time as waves on the surface move toward the beach
There were occasional quiet areas where water birds could be clearly heard but an undertow of mechanical noise was always present.
And beneath it all is a dark undertow of family dislocation, fear of the unknown, and protection of one's own.
By the same token, the boy's specter - and in general, the consciousness of distress - provides an undertow that pulls against the success of condescension.
Despite those difficulties, there is a positive undertow, and a wish on all sides that it should succeed.
Against that powerful undertow nothing could make headway.
It has a deep emotional undertow and the general sense is that justice should be done to all parties.
There is always a suspicion of the undertow of a commercial influence which can corrupt religion like anything else.
At times that undertow assumed proportions of such violence that it was even a threat to the established and very important work which had been going on.
