underlay
underlay Lexical Profile
underlay Game Scores & Validity
• noun
In musical notation, the placement of lyrics beneath the corresponding notes of a vocal score.
"The editor carefully adjusted the text underlay in the choral score so that each syllable aligned clearly with the melody."
A layer of material placed beneath another for support, protection, or cushioning, especially a pad laid under a carpet or floor covering.
"Installing a thick foam underlay will make the new living room carpet feel much softer underfoot."
• verb
To lay or place something beneath another thing, especially for support, cushioning, or elevation.
"The builders underlaid the hardwood floorboards with a moisture-resistant membrane."
To serve as the basis, foundation, or underlying cause of something (the past tense form of 'underlie').
"Years of meticulous archival research underlaid the historian's groundbreaking biography."
Word Nuance & Usage
Like 'lay' and 'lie', 'underlay' and 'underlie' are frequently confused: 'underlay' is a transitive verb meaning 'to place something beneath' (past tense 'underlaid'), whereas 'underlie' is also the past tense of 'underlie' (meaning 'to lie or be situated beneath', past participle 'underlain').
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'underlecgan', formed from the prefix 'under-' and 'lecgan' ('to lay').