Main Entry:

un·der·ly·ing

Pronunciation:

\ˌən-dər-ˈlī-iŋ\

Function:

adjective

Date:

1611

1 a: lying beneath or below <the underlying rock is shale> b: basic, fundamental <an investigation of the underlying issues>2: evident only on close inspection : implicit3: anterior and prior in claim <underlying mortgage>4: of or being present in deep structure <underlying word order>