underlying

Pluralunderlyings

1. 1
   adjective

   Being the most basic or important part of something, even when it is hidden.

   Like the foundation of a house: you cannot see it, but it holds everything up.

   Doctors searched for the underlying cause of her frequent headaches.

   There was one underlying reason for all of his money troubles.

   Similarfundamental, basic, essential, intrinsic, primary

   Oppositesuperficial

   Note
2. 2
   adjective

   Present in something but not said out loud, only suggested.

   Like a meaning hidden between the lines of a letter.

   There was an underlying sadness in the way he spoke.

   The story carries an underlying message about being kind.

   Similarimplicit, unspoken, latent, tacit, unexpressed

   Oppositeexplicit, overt, open

3. 3
   adjective

   Lying or placed under something else.

   Like the floor hidden under a rug.

   The underlying rock was much harder than the soil above it.

   Workers found an underlying layer of clay beneath the topsoil.

   Similarlower, subjacent

   Oppositeoverlying, upper

   Note
4. 4
   verb

   The -ing form of underlie. Use it to name the action, or after a noun to describe it.

   The ideas underlying the plan were simple and clear to everyone.

   Money worries were the real problem underlying most of their arguments.

   Note
5. 5
   nouncountable

   In finance, the asset that a contract is based on, whose price decides what the contract is worth.

   Like a bet on a horse: the bet's value depends on how the horse runs.

   If the underlying goes up in price, the option becomes worth more.

   The trader checked the price of the underlying before selling the contract.

   Note

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