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underlie

[ uhn-der-lahy ]
/ ˌʌn dərˈlaɪ /
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See synonyms for: underlie / underlying on Thesaurus.com
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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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. 2023

Words related to underlie

control, curb, decide, determine, dominate, guide, handle, inhibit, manage, regulate, rule, boss, bridle, check, contain, direct, discipline, dispose, incline, predispose

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, 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
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