Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
undergird
underglaze
undergo
undergrad
undergraduate
underground
Underground Railroad
underground railroad
underground railway
undergrown
undergrowth
underhand
underhanded
underhung
underinsure
underlain
underlay (1)
Click to move down the list of words
Also available:

World English Dictionary
Dictionnaire Français

underlying

un·der·ly·ing [ úndər l ing ]


adjective 
Definition:
 
1. lying underneath: positioned beneath something else
the underlying rock strata

2. hidden and significant: present and important but not immediately obvious
the underlying reasons for his odd behavior

3. essential: basic or fundamental to something
the underlying principles behind the decision

4. finance financially most important: describes financial obligations or assets that take priority over others

Advertisement

© 2009 Microsoft