underlay

[ verb uhn-der-ley; noun uhn-der-ley ]

/ verb ˌʌn dərˈleɪ; noun ˈʌn dərˌleɪ /

verb (used with object), un·der·laid, un·der·lay·ing.

to lay under or beneath.

to provide with something laid underneath; raise or support with something laid underneath: The manufacturer underlays the chrome finish with a zinc coating.

to extend across the bottom of.

noun

something underlaid.

Printing. a piece or pieces of paper put under type or cuts to bring them to the proper height for printing.

Nearby words

underinsured, underived, underkill, underlaid, underlap, underlay, underlayer, underlayment, underleaf, underlet, underlie

Origin of underlay

before 900; Middle English underleyen, Old English underlecgan; see under-, lay¹

Definition for underlay (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.

Origin of underlie

before 900; Middle English underlyen (v.), Old English underlicgan. See under-, lie²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for underlay

Thus was paved the way for the abstractions that underlay the casino capitalism about which everybody now has nothing good to say.
They Saw It Coming|Stanley Crouch|December 30, 2008|DAILY BEAST
She was very straightforward herself and generally had a very clear idea of what underlay any action or feeling on her part.
The Squirrel-Cage|Dorothy Canfield
His deep affection for Martha underlay his delight in learning to play the game.
Rough-Hewn|Dorothy Canfield
What underlay the whole scheme of 1834 was the very opposite to compulsion.
English Poor Law Policy|Sidney Webb

She did not consider this, she could hardly be said to be intelligently aware of it, but it underlay all that she said and did.
The Path of a Star|Mrs. Everard Cotes (AKA Sara Jeannette Duncan)
He completely rejected the individualistic conception which underlay Kantian as well as Christian ethics.
The Idea of Progress|J. B. Bury

British Dictionary definitions for underlay (1 of 2)

underlay

verb (ˌʌndəˈleɪ) -lays, -laying or -laid (tr)

to place (something) under or beneath

to support by something laid beneath

to achieve the correct printing pressure all over (a forme block) or to bring (a block) up to type height by adding material, such as paper, to the appropriate areas beneath it

noun (ˈʌndəˌleɪ)

a layer, lining, support, etc, laid underneath something else

printing material, such as paper, used to underlay a forme or block

felt, rubber, etc, laid beneath a carpet to increase insulation and resilience

British Dictionary definitions for underlay (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 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

underlier, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012