underlying
underlying Lexical Profile
underlying Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Significant as a cause or basis of something, though not necessarily obvious or directly stated; fundamental.
"The doctors ran several tests to identify the underlying cause of her persistent fatigue."
Lying or situated physically beneath another layer or surface.
"Soil erosion stripped away the fertile topsoil and exposed the underlying bedrock."
• noun
In finance, the security, asset, or index upon which a derivative contract (such as an option or futures contract) is based.
"The value of the call option fluctuates directly with the price volatility of its underlying."
Word Nuance & Usage
As an adjective, 'underlying' is used strictly before a noun (attributively), such as 'an underlying cause', rather than after a linking verb.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'underlicgende', the present participle of 'underlicgan' ('to lie beneath or be subject to'), formed from 'under-' ('beneath') and 'licgan' ('to lie').