underlying
[ uhn-der-lahy-ing ]
/ ˈʌn dərˌlaɪ ɪŋ /
adjective
lying or situated beneath, as a substratum.
fundamental; basic: the underlying cause of their discontent.
implicit; discoverable only by close scrutiny or analysis: an underlying seriousness in his witticisms.
(of a claim, mortgage, etc.) taking precedence; anterior; prior.
Linguistics.
belonging to an earlier stage in the transformational derivation of a sentence or other structure; belonging to the deep structure.
Words nearby underlying
underlie,
underline,
underlinen,
underling,
underlit,
underlying,
undermanned,
undermentioned,
undermine,
undermining ulcer,
undermodulate
Definition for underlying (2 of 2)
underlie
[ uhn-der-lahy ]
/ ˌʌn dərˈlaɪ /
verb (used with object), un·der·lay, un·der·lain, un·der·ly·ing.
to lie under or beneath; be situated under.
to be at the basis of; form the foundation of.
Grammar.
to function as the root morpheme or original or basic form of (a derived form): The form “boy” underlies “boyish.”
Finance.
to be primary to another right or security.
Example sentences from the Web for underlying
British Dictionary definitions for underlying (1 of 2)
underlying
/ (ˌʌndəˈlaɪɪŋ) /
adjective
concealed but detectable
underlying guilt
fundamental; basic
lying under
finance
(of a claim, liability, etc) taking precedence; prior
British Dictionary definitions for underlying (2 of 2)
underlie
/ (ˌʌndəˈlaɪ) /
verb -lies, -lying, -lay or -lain (tr)
to lie or be placed under or beneath
to be the foundation, cause, or basis of
careful planning underlies all our decisions
finance
to take priority over (another claim, liability, mortgage, etc)
a first mortgage underlies a second
to be the root or stem from which (a word) is derived
"happy" underlies "happiest"