1. (

• underlie

) be or form the base for ;

2. (

• underlie ,

) lie underneath ;

1. (

• implicit_in ,
• inherent ,
• underlying

) in the nature of something though not readily apparent; "shortcomings inherent in our approach"; "an underlying meaning" ;

2. (

• underlying

) located beneath or below ;

3. (

• fundamental ,
• rudimentary ,
• underlying

) being or involving basic facts or principles; "the fundamental laws of the universe"; "a fundamental incompatibility between them"; "these rudimentary truths"; "underlying principles" ;