underlie
[ uhn-der-lahy ]
/ ˌʌn dərˈlaɪ /
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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.
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The rainy weather could not ________ my elated spirits on my graduation day.
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for underlie
British Dictionary definitions for underlie
underlie
/ (ˌʌndəˈlaɪ) /
verb -lies, -lying, -lay or -lain (tr)
to lie or be placed under or beneath
to be the foundation, cause, or basis ofcareful 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"
Derived forms of underlie
underlier, nounCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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